18 



YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



INTERIOR LIVE OAK 

 Quercus wislizeni A DC — Beech Family (Fagaceae) 



This species is found in the foot- 

 hills and open valleys along the 

 western boundary of the park up to 

 about the 2,000 foot elevation. It is an 

 evergreen tree. The foliage is dense, 

 shiny, and of a rich green color (yel- 

 low green on underside), with indi- 

 vidual leaves being from one to three 

 inches long, of leathery texture, and 

 with the margins being either entire 

 (smooth — not toothed) or character- 

 ized by spiny teeth. The acorns, one 

 to one and one-half inches long at 

 maturity, are generally conical, ta- 

 pering at the apex, and enclosed at 



the base by reddish-brown, scaly 

 cups. The tree is usually from 30 to 50 

 feet tall and one to three feet in di- 

 ameter, with a short trunk and wide 

 spreading branches which produce 

 a broad, rounded crown. 



As it is very rare in Yosemite Na- 

 tional Park it will not often be found 

 in this area by the average visitor. 

 However, it is abundant in the foot- 

 hills to the west and will be readily 

 noted along the approach roads to 

 the park which pass through that 

 region. 



l-oliagf and atoms of inferior liic oak (Inch stfiiarii on background) 



