Quercus douglasii
Quercus douglasii, known as blue oak, is a species of oak endemic to (found only in) California, common in the Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is California's most drought-tolerant deciduous oak, and is a dominant species in the blue oak woodland ecosystem. It is occasionally known as mountain oak and iron oak. Description. "Quercus douglasii" is a medium-sized tree with sparse foliage, generally tall, with a trunk in diameter at breast height. Trunks are typically solitary, but some trees have multiple trunks. The tallest recorded specimen was found in Alameda  County, at . The trees grow slowly, about per year. Individual trees over 500 years old have been recorded. The bark is light gray with many medium-sized dark cracks. The blue-green leaves are tough and leathery, deciduous, long, and entire or shallowly lobed. The acorns are long, with a moderately sweet kernel, and mature in 6–7 months from pollination. "Q. douglasii" is monoecious and wind-pollinated. Flower buds take a growing season to develop into catkins. Blue oak pollen is severely allergenic. Taxonomy. The species is one of over 80 named after Scottish botanist David Douglas. The common name  blue oak derives from the dark blue-green tint of its leaves. Taxonomically it is placed in the white oak group (subgenus "Quercus", section "Quercus"). Ecology. "Q. douglasii" prefers dry to moist soil and plenty of sunlight. Its sparse foliage allows more light to reach the ground, and young trees may grow for decades below their parents' canopies. The species often co-habitates with gray pine ("Pinus sabiniana"), and is also found with interior live oak ("Q. wislizeni"), coast live oak ("Q. agrifolia"), valley oak ("Q. lobata"), Oregon white oak ("Q. garryana"), and canyon live oak ("Q. chrysolepis"). Natural hybrids  between "Q. douglasii" and the related "Q. lobata", "Q. garryana", and shrub live oak ("Q. turbinella") often occur where the species grow together in the same area. Sources consider "Quercus × alvordiana" to be a hybrid of "Q. douglasii" and either "Q. turbinella" or "Q. john-tuckeri". Old-growth blue oak woodland may be one of the most widespread old-growth forest ecosystems remaining in the state after European colonization. Drought tolerance. "Quercus douglasii" is the most drought-tolerant of California's deciduous oaks. It has a smaller canopy than less drought-tolerant relatives, and invests proportionally more growth into  roots rather than leaves throughout its life cycle. The leathery blue-green leaves contribute to its drought resistance; during drought, the leaf color is more pronounced. Trees can also drop their leaves in summer rather than fall in dry years, but usually continue to develop their acorns through the fall. Drought may cause trees not to flower in spring. Gall wasps. Author Ron Russo writes that "Q. douglasii" hosts the "largest number of known species" of gall wasps, at more than 50. The wasps trigger the formation of oak galls in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Sudden  oak death resistance. As of 2002, the disease known as sudden oak death, caused by the oomycete "Phytophthora ramorum", had not been found in "Quercus douglasii" or any members of the white oak group. An experiment showed that "Q. douglasii" and "Q. lobata" (another white oak) appeared to be resistant to the pathogen. Uses. Native Californians commonly gathered "Quercus douglasii" acorns, which they considered good-tasting, and processed them into acorn flour. They made baskets out of blue oak seedlings, utensils such as bowls from the wood, and dye from the acorns. Commercially, the blue oak is mainly limited to  use as firewood. The acorns are eaten by wildlife and livestock. They can be eaten but, if bitter, may need to have the tannins leached.