Common names ⁴

coast live oak

encina

California live oak

Description ⁵

More info for the term: tree

Coast live oak is a native, drought-resistant, evergreen tree, ranging in height from 19 to 82 feet (6-25 m) and in diameter from 1 to 4 feet (0.3-1.2 m) [70,129]. The bark of young trees is smooth. With age, it develops deep furrows, ridges, and a thickness of about 8 to 9% of bole or branch diameter [70,129]. The inner bark and cork layers are thick [43,129]. Open-grown crowns are broad and dense, with foliage often reaching the ground [70]. In open areas trunks are usually 4 to 8 feet (1.2-2.8 m) tall; at this height, primary branches originate and grow horizontally. Trees in dense stands generally have irregular crowns and few lower branches. In closed stands trunks may be branchless up to 20 feet (6.2 m) high, where several branches extend diagonally upward [129]. Coast live oak stands are typically from 40 to 110 years old. Individual trees may live over 250 years [43,129].

The root system consists of a deep taproot that is usually nonfunctional in large trees [35,128]. Several deep main roots may tap groundwater if present within approximately 36 feet (11 m) of the soil surface [31,35,128]. Coast live oak develops extensive horizontal root branches and surface-feeding roots [18,35,128]. Tree roots in southwestern California are associated with mycorrhizae that aid in water uptake during the dry season. A network consisting of roots from 3 coast live oak trees and their and associated mycorrhizae covered a 50- × 13-foot (15- × 4-m) area of the soil profile that reached through weathered granite through to bedrock. Roots in clay soils were not infected with mycorrhizae [18].

Distribution ⁶

Coast live oak occurs in California south to Baja California in Mexico. Within california it is chiefly found in the Outer North Coast Ranges, Central Western California, Southwestern California.

Edible ⁷

The acorns of this plant are of varied size and shape. Some seem to be a majority cap while others appear to be very large and nutritious. The acorns tend to be of a light chestnut color and pointed. Though the acorn may taste bitter, when boiled and added with other spices/foods, acorns can be a recipe to many delicacies.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) randomtruth, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/58096907@N00/2596052770
2. (c) Belinda Lo, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/belinda712/11827391795/
3. (c) kqedquest, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/48372717@N00/2434188285
4. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24096709
5. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24642999
6. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/7063158
7. (c) jihyunan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Calflora
• CalPhotos
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Jepson eFlora
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• World Flora Online

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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