California Scrub Oak, Quercus berberidifolia

Scalloped leaves, few marginal teeth; Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 10-31-10. © Joan Avise	California Scrub Oak Quercus berberidifolia A shrubby tree from 4-15 ft. in height with densely packed leaves and twigs. It is common in coastal sage scrub, especially on steep dry slopes with shallow soil. It often hybridizes with Engelmann oaks in many parts of the county, especially on Rancho Mission Viejo where most of the scrub oaks are hybrids. It can also hybridize with Valley oak, Nuttall's scrub oak, and others. Leaf shape and size can be quite variable making identification difficult. Scrub oak is shade intolerant and sprouts vigorously after fire. Native to California Back to Fagaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
Developing fruit; Tenaja Falls Trail, San Mateo Wilderness Area, Riverside Co., CA. 7-4-11. © Joan Avise	Flat rigid leaves, developing fruit; San Juan Loop Trail, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA.7-18-10. © Joan Avise
Acorns mature in one season; Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 10-31-10. © Joan Avise	Paler, slightly hairy below; Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 10-31-10. © Joan Avise
10' shrub with densely packed leaves; Blue Jay Campground, Cleveland National Forest, Riverside Co., CA. 10-31-10. © Joan Avise	Male catkins; Aliso +Wood Cyns. Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, CA. 4-18-09. © Joan Avise
Underside of leaf showing stellate trichomes. Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 12-15-11. © Peter J. Bryant	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 (~2mm diam.). Wood Canyon, Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Orange County, CA. 4-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Cynipidae (Gall Wasps) inducing galls on scrub oak: First row (as available), inducing wasps; second row, galls or gall types from which the corresponding wasp hatched.
Crystalline Disc Gall Wasp, Andricus crystallinus	Disc Gall Wasp, Andricus parmula	Oak apple Gall Wasp, Andricus quercuscalifornicus	Antron douglasii	PBCyn12


Cynips conspicuus			Beaked Twig Gall Wasp, Disholcaspis plumbella	Beaked Twig Gall Inquiline, Synergus sp.


PBCyn1	PBCyn2	PBCyn9	PBCyn10	PBCyn11