Laurel Oak

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Laurel Oak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Section: Lobatae
Species: Q. hemisphaerica
Binomial name
Quercus hemisphaerica
Bartram ex Willd.

Quercus hemisphaerica (Laurel Oak, Darlington Oak, Laurel-leaf Oak) is a species of oak native to the SE United States. It is in the red oak section Quercus sect. Lobatae. It is often confused with and closely related to the Swamp Laurel Oak in which it differs in several key characteristics.

It is an evergreen to semi-evergreen medium sized tree which can grow as tall as 115 feet(35m) tall and with a 5 foot(1.5m) trunk diameter, although it is more commonly around 60 to 65 feet(18m-20m) tall. The leaves are entire, without teeth except one apical awn(rarely with a few teeth near apex), mostly elliptical or narrowly ovate, and 1.2 to 4.7 inches(3cm to 12cm) long by 0.4 to 1.6 inches(1cm to 4cm) wide. The petiole is very short ranging from 1/25 to 1/5 of an inch(1mm to 5mm) long and the leaf base is obtuse to rounded. The acorns are hemispheric in shape and 0.35 to 0.6 inches(9 to 16.5mm) by 0.35 to 0.6 inches(9 to 16.5mm). The acorns take 18 months to mature and are 1/4 to 1/3 covered by a saucer to bowl shaped cap.

It grows in somewhat xeric sandy soils, sand hills, and sometimes on hillsides.

There is at least one known hybrid involving Quercus hemisphaerica which is with Q. laevis (Q. × mellichampii Trel.).

[edit] Key differences between Laurel Oak(Q. hemisphaerica) and Swamp Laurel Oak(Q. laurifolia)

  • When both swamp laurel and laurel oak are growing in the same area, laurel oak will flower about 2 weeks later than the sympatric swamp laurel oak.
  • Laurel oak grows on dry sandy soils while Swamp Laurel Oak(Quercus laurifolia) grows on flood plains, river bottoms, and occasionally poorly drained upland soils.
  • Laurel oak has narrow ovate or elliptic leaves, while swamp laurel oak has rhombic or broad ovate leaves.
  • Laurel oak has an acute leaf apex and a rounded or obtuse leaf base, while swamp laurel oak has an obtuse or rounded leaf apex and a cuneate or attenuate leaf base.
  • Laurel oak is mostly evergreen, while swamp laurel oak is mostly tardily deciduous.

[edit] References and external links