Quercus tomentella Engelm.

Tree to 20 m. Bark thin and reddish brown, divided into large scales. Branches spreading to form a rounded crown. Branchlets reddish brown or greyish green, rigid and densely tomentose. Leaves evergreen, (3–)7–10 (–20) × 2.5–4 cm, oblong to lanceolate or elliptic, leathery, upper surface glossy dark green and sparsely stellate-tomentose, lower surface densely tomentose with white hairs and a pilose midrib, 8–10(–12) secondary veins on each side of the midrib, margins strongly revolute, crenate to dentate (rarely entire) with mucronate teeth, apex rounded or acute; petiole 0.3–1 cm long with rusty hairs. Infructescence with a solitary (rarely paired) cupule. Cupule cup-shaped, 1.5–3 × 0.4–0.8 cm; scales deeply embedded in whitish brown tomentum, with only the elongated apices visible. Acorn ovoid, with one-quarter to one-third of its length enclosed in the cupule, 2–3 cm long, stylopodium persistent. Flowering May to June (USA). Nixon 1997. Distribution MEXICO: Baja California, Guadalupe Is.; USA: California (Channel Is.). Habitat Lower parts of steep canyons and ridge tops between 100 and 650 m asl. USDA Hardiness Zone 8. Conservation status Vulnerable, due to habitat degradation and loss. Illustration Nixon 1997.