Quercus hemisphaerica W. Bartram ex Willd.

Darlington's Oak; Sand Laurel Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Upland Laurel Oak is a native evergreen or tardily deciduous tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It is native to the southern two thirds of Alabama. Upland Laurel Oak occurs in sandhills, in dry, sandy hardwood or mixed pine/hardwood forests, on slopes, and near streams. It is potentially a large tree reaching heights of 75-100 feet. More often it is a poorly formed small tree from 20-30 feet in height. The bark is gray, smooth on young trunks and shallowly ridged and furrowed on older trees. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and usually falling in early spring as new leaves emerge. The leaves are relatively thick and leathery, and elliptic to lanceolate in outline, with a sharp apex. The leaves are dark green, lustrous and glabrous above, lighter green and glabrous below. The margins are entire or sometimes with a few irregular teeth, especially on sprouts. Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish catkins. Female flowers are sessile or shore stalked. The fruit is a nut. The cap of the acorn is shallow and covers only the base of the fruit. Acorns take two years to mature. Upland Laurel Oak is sometimes confused with Laurel Oak (Quercus laurifolia Michaux). Laurel oak has leaves that are rounded at the apex and is deciduous, dropping its leaves in the autumn. Laurel Oak is also found on floodplains and other poorly draining soils, whereas Upland Laurel Oak is most common on xeric or well-draining sandy soils in uplands. Upland Laurel Oak has greatly increased its presence, often becoming dominant in forests where fire has been excluded. It often invades disturbed upland sites such as old fields. Upland Laurel Oak is occasionally planted as a shade tree. Its leaves and abundant acorns are often messy and difficult to remove.--A. Diamond

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Native

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