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LAUREL OAK
Quercus hemisphaerica Bartr. ex Willd.
(KWER-cus hem-iss-FEER-i-ca) |
GENERAL:
A medium-sized oak tree, it may reach 30 m.
(90 feet) or more with a stout, straight trunk. Older trees
sometimes develop buttressed trunks with relatively smooth bark.
A fast growing shade tree with a full, rounded crown makes it popular
in landscapes, but it has a short life (60 years) and drops many
twigs.
Botanists are not in agreement on the Laurel Oaks. Some consider
Q. hemisphaerica to be a subspecies of Q. laurifolia. You
will not be incorrect whichever you choose. The main distinction
between the two is that the former is considered an upland species,
while the latter is found in wetter areas.
FLOWERS / FRUIT:
The male flowers occur in short, hanging catkins. The female
flowers are found on short stalks on new growth. Both occur on the same
tree.
The acorn is dome-shaped 1-2 cm. (½-1 in.) long with a shallow cup covering ¼ of the nut.
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Leaf Front
LAUREL OAK (Quercus hemisphaerica)
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Leaf Back
LAUREL OAK (Quercus hemisphaerica)
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LEAVES / STEMS:
The leaves are alternate, simple and deciduous, though they remain on
the tree most of the winter. Dropping their leaves all at once,
the trees only stay bare for a few weeks in the early spring. The
shiny, bright green leaves are 5-10 cm (2-4 in.) long and 2-4 cm
(1-1½ in.) wide. Leaves may have 3 or more lobes at
the tips, but the majority of the mature leaves will be laurel
shaped. Neither surface displays any pubescence, but some may
have a tiny bristle tip.
DISTRIBUTION:
Found in dry woods and mesic (moderately moist) oak-pine woods
throughout Florida except the Keys. It is a tree of the
coastal plain from Texas to Virginia.
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