VALUE OF OAK LEAVES FOR FORAGE. 



11 



MAUL OAK (Quercus chrysolepis). 



The Maul Oak (Q. chrysolepis), when found growing on well-watered 

 and protected slopes, is a tree 40 to 60 feet in height, with large sweeping 

 branches. On exposed slopes, however, and on the upper ridges and 

 peaks, it becomes a gregarious shrub with Q. garryana. The leaves are 

 oblong, acute or cuspidate, entire on old trees but spinose-dentate on 

 young ones and on shoots. They are pale and glaucous above, with 



PLATE VII. QUERCUS CALIFORN1CA. (BLACK OAK.) 



golden tomentum below. The acorn is usually solitary, ovate or oval, 

 \ to 2 inches long, and borne in a shallow cup. The crop of mast is 

 uncertain and is often ruined by the larvae of moths. 



The range of this oak extends from southern Oregon through the 

 Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada, and on through the San Bernardino 

 Mountains to Lower California. It often reaches an elevation of 9,000 feet. 



Maul Oak is used as a "browse" by sheep and goats, and sparingly 

 by cattle. 



