BROADLEAVED TREES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



19 



BLUE OAK 

 Quercus douglasii Hook & Arn — Beech Family (Fagaceae) 



This tree is found in the foothills 

 along the western boundcfiy of 

 Yosemite National Park up to about 

 2000 feet in elevation. It is character- 

 ized by the blue-green color of its 

 foliage, which accounts for its com- 

 mon name, and the smooth appear- 

 ing, light ash-gray, flaky bark. It is 

 a small tree, averaging 30 to 50 feet 

 in height and twelve to sixteen inches 

 in diameter. The stout trunk bears 

 thick branches which form a compact 

 crown. The leaves are deciduous, 

 dropping from the tree during the fall 

 and winter of each year. They are 



two to three inches long and one-half 

 to two inches wide, and are quite 

 variable in form for the margins are 

 either entire (not toothed) or sinuately 

 lobed (wavy). 



As the blue oak is very rare in the 

 park it will not be found by the aver- 

 age visitor in this area. Along the 

 roads in the foothills to the west of the 

 boundary, however, it is a common 

 tree and can be readily noted as one- 

 approaches Yosemite National Park 

 from any of the principal nearby 

 towns in the San Joaquin Valley. 



photo l'\ Brink man 



Foliage and acorns of blue oak (Inch squares on backgroiiiij) 



