Description:
– Can reach 40 meters tall in the California Coast Ranges
– Trunk diameter ranges from 60 to 190 centimeters
– Leaves are 8–13cm with toothed margins
– Seed is an acorn 2–3cm long and 2cm in diameter
– Largest known specimen is in Ophir, Oregon
Notholithocarpus densiflorus var. echinoides:
– Populations in interior California and Klamath Mountains are smaller
– Rarely exceed 3m in height
– Often shrubby with smaller leaves
– Grows as a shrub on serpentine soils
– Variability in size and appearance
Taxonomy:
– Moved to a new genus, Notholithocarpus, in 2008
– Closely related to north temperate oaks
– Not closely related to Asian tropical stone oaks
– Example of convergent morphological evolution
– Written as tanoak because it is not a true oak
Distribution:
– Native to western United States
– Found in southwest Oregon and California
– Grows from sea level to elevations of 1,200m
Ecology:
– Shade tolerant and benefits from disturbances
– Susceptible to wildfire and rot fungi
– Seriously affected by sudden oak death disease
– Fine hairs deter deer from eating leaves
– Nuts are consumed by various animals
Uses:
– Nut kernel is bitter and inedible without leaching
– Used by California Native Americans for various dishes
– Roasted seeds can be a coffee substitute
– Bark used for tanning leather
– Wood used as lumber and firewood