Five southern California oaks: identification and postfire management

Timothy R. Plumb; Anthony P. Gomez

doi:10.2737/PSW-GTR-71

Treesearch

Five southern California oaks: identification and postfire management

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Timothy R. Plumb, Anthony P. Gomez

Year:

1983

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/PSW-GTR-71

Source:

Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-71. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; 56 p

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Download (PDF 3.63 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/27312.pdf

Abstract

Oak trees in California are subject to periodic burning by fire, but their trunks and crowns vary in tolerance to fire. And once burned, oaks are difficult to identify by species. Fifteen oak species grow in California. This report provides keys to identifying five species of southern California oaks: coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia Née), interior live oak (Q. wislizenii A. DC.), California black oak (Q. kelloggii Newb.), canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis Liebm.), and California scrub oak (Q. dumosa Nutt.). For each species, the characteristics of leaves, acorns, and bark; response to fire; and management alternatives for damaged oaks after fire are described.

Keywords

Quercus agrifolia, Q wislizenii, Q kelloggii, Q chrysolepis, Q dumosa, Nutt oak taxonomy, tree injury, sprouting, oak management, fire management, southern California

Citation

Plumb, Timothy R.; Gomez, Anthony P. 1983. Five southern California oaks: identification and postfire management. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-71. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station. 56 p.