Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, CA. 5-02-09. © Joan Avise

Canyon Oak (Canyon Live Oak)

Quercus chrysolepis

Fagaceae

A 15-75 ft. evergreen tree that can live over 300 years.  The state's largest measures 77' and grows in Idyllwild, Riverside County. Roberts has found it growing in Orange County in moist canyons and slopes in montane chaparral and the Santa Ana mountains where there are some large stands. The acorns are the largest among the native oaks.  The acorn cup scales, from which the tree derives its name, are thick and slightly warty with golden hairs. These trees often occur in clonal rings above 6,500 ft. 

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Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, CA. 5-02-09. © Joan Avise
Male catkins; leaf margins are variable. Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, CA. 5-02-09. © Joan Avise

Male catkins, flower has no petals. Fullerton Arboretum, Fullerton, Orange County, CA. 5-02-09. © Joan Avise
Upper Trabuco Cyn and Trail, 4-26-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.


Upper Trabuco Cyn, below Main Divide, 2-10-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Male catkins. Maple Springs Rd., .82 mi NNW Modjeska Peak, 5-3-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Slope, 500 ft NE Trabuco Pk, 10-23-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Upper Trabuco Cyn, below Main Divide, 2-10-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Pine Cyn., Santa Ana Mts., 4-12-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Pine Cyn., Santa Ana Mts., 4-12-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Pine Cyn., Santa Ana Mts., 4-12-12. © Ron Vanderhoff.		  

Burl, Modjeska Peak vic., 4-4-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Burl, Modjeska Peak vic., 4-4-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Burls, Modjeska Peak vic., 4-4-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Burls, Modjeska Peak vic., 4-4-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

Swollen stem gall, Modjeska Peak vic., 4-4-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Quercus chrysolepis and agrifolia, Upper Trabuco Cyn, below Main Divide, 2-10-11. © Ron Vanderhoff.
Cynipidae (Gall Wasps) inducing galls on Quercus chrysolepis: First row, inducing wasps; second row, galls or gall types from which the corresponding wasp hatched.

Heteroecus sanctaeclarae
PBCyn3
PBCyn7 (Andricus lasius?)
PBCyn8 (Andricus lasius?)