Southern Live Oak Fagaceae Quercus virginiana

Leaf: Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, 2 to 5 inches long, oblong or
elliptical in shape with an entire or spiny and revolute margin. The upper surface
is lustrous, the lower is pale and pubescent. Generally, not bristle-tipped.

Flower: Staminate flowers borne on catkins. Pistillate flowers borne on spikes.
Appearing March through May.

Fruit: Acorns are in clusters of 3 to 5, maturing in one season. The nut is
dark in color, 3/4 inch long and covered 1/3 by the cap. The cap is bowl-shaped
and warty, termed “turbinate” by Harlow et al. Maturing in September of the
first year.

Twig: Slender, gray and pubescent, with small, blunt, multiple terminal buds.

Bark: Rapidly developing red-brown furrows with small surface scales. Later,
becoming black and very blocky.

Form: A medium-sized tree that can grow to massive proportions. Open-grown
trees develop a huge rounded crown. The largest crowns may be 150 feet across.