Leaves strongly convex with spiny tipped margins; Mason Regional Park, Irvine, CA. 8-28-11. © Joan Avise

Coast Live Oak

Quercus agrifolia

Fagaceae

A common species of foothills and coastal woodlands.  The trees can live for hundreds of years, insulated from fire damage by their thick moist bark and sprouting ability. Since the mid-1990's, thousands of oak trees have been killed by a bark-invading fungus in the genus Phytophthora. (Stuart and Sawyer, Trees and Shrubs of CA).

Back to Fagaceae of Orange County, California
Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California
Back to Natural History of Orange County, California


Mature trees reach 30-80'; Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-22-09. © Joan Avise

Found along streams; Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Orange Co., CA. 6-4-11. © Joan Avise

Evergreen leaves; Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Orange Co., CA. 6-4-11. © Joan Avise

With Hairy (Oak) Mistletoe, Phoradendron serotinum, Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-4-12. © Joan Avise.

Long pointed acorns mature in one season; Mason Regional Park, Irvine, CA. 8-28-11. © Joan Avise

"Mother Oak", thought to be 500 yrs old; Donna O'Neill Land Conservancy, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 5-03-09. © Joan Avise

Acorns. Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, CA. 10-9-11. © Peter J. Bryant

Acorns. Caspers Wilderness Park, San Juan Capistrano, Orange County, CA. 10-9-11. © Peter J. Bryant

A granary made by a breeding group of Acorn Woodpeckers, who depend heavily on acorns for food. As acorns dry out, they are moved to smaller holes, thus maintenance requires a significant amount of the bird's time. The woodpeckers usually use dead trees, but this one was alive. Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-4-12. © Joan Avise

Mature acorn showing the nearly sessile stalk, the top-shaped cap with thin, flat, smooth, brown scales.  The acorn nut tapers to a point; shell is smooth on the outer surface, densely matted with hair in the inner surface. Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Irvine, CA. 2-4-12. © Joan Avise

Trees found in riparian areas; Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Orange Co., CA. 6-4-11. © Joan Avise

Male catkins; Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-05-10. © Peter J. Bryant

Immature male catkins. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Immature male catkins. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 3-31-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins. Aliso Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins; Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 04-05-10. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 3-31-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 3-31-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins; Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 2-22-09. © Joan Avise

Male catkins. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 3-31-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Male catkins and female flowers (circled). Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Female flowers (~2.5mm diam.). Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Unidentified leaf gall. Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Catkin gall, presumed to be induced by the cynipid wasp Callirhytis congregata (Russo). Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Foliage variability, Serrano Creek, vic. Whiting Ranch, 11-20-14. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Cynipidae (Gall Wasps) inducing galls on Coat Live Oak: First row, inducing wasps; second row, galls or gall types from which the corresponding wasp hatched.

Two-horned Gall Wasp,
Dryocosmus dubiosus

Pumpkin Gall Wasp,
Dryocosmus minisculus

PBCyn5