Quercus douglasii, pigment ink on 3.5"x2.5" smooth Bristol board.
TAXONOMY:
Blue Oak, scientific name: Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn. (Fagaceae). It is in the white oak (Lepidobalanus) subgenus [72,114,134,157,239]. USDA Forest Service Fire Effects information System, Tree Index
Quercus douglasii; Blue Oak; Mountain White Oak, Iron Oak, is named after its discoverer, David Douglas (1798-1834), the Scottish botanical explorer. The tree is recognized by its bluish foliage, and stands 20 - 60 feet. It has a short leaning trunk up to 1 foot diameter, light gray scaly bark; short stout branches, broad rounded crown; yellowish brittle twigs which are hairy at first, becoming glabrous. It is mainly used for fuel.
The leaves are fall and drought deciduous but may be retained when planted on moist sites; oblong or elliptical leaves are 1 1/4 - 4"wide long and 3/4 to 1 3/4", stiff with 4-5 lobes, sometimes dentate, dark blue green above, pale yellow green beneath, small stellate trichomes. The petiole is 0.3-1.2 cm and is blue green.
The fruit (acorn) is abundant, 3/4-1 1/4 " elliptical, broad or narrow with shallow warty cup. The kernel is sweet and matures in one year; eaten by livestock and wildlife.
REFERENCES, ADDITIONAL READING:
- Oaks of the World
- National Audubon Society, Filed Guide to Trees, Western Region. Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2000
- USDA Forest Service Fire Effects Information System - Quercus douglasii
- http://dictionary.reference.com/
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/
