Quercus laurifolia Michx.

Laurel Oak

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Laurel Oak is a large native deciduous tree in the Beech family (Fagaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Laurel Oak grows in floodplains forests, on river banks, in swamps, and in upland depression wetlands, usually on sites with clay soils. Laurel Oak is a large tree reaching heights of 100-120 feet. The bark is gray and moderately deeply furrowed (more so than that of Upland Laurel Oak or Water Oak). Leaves are alternate, petiolate, obovate to oblong in outline, with entire margins. The apex of the leaf is rounded. The leaves are glabrous with raised veins, darker green above than below. The leaves turn yellow and then brown before falling in the autumn. Male flowers are produced in drooping greenish catkins. Female flowers are solitary and short stalked. The fruit is a nut. Acorns take two years to mature. The cup of the acorn is shaped like a shallow bowl, and covers ¼-1/2 of the acorn. Laurel Oak is a large, stately tree and is used as a shade or street tree. It grows fairly rapidly and is not particular about soils. It is however relatively short lived (75-100 years), and often become hollow with age. Laurel Oak is similar to and often confused with Upland Laurel Oak (Quercus hemisphaerica Bartram ex Willdenow). Upland Laurel Oak usually occurs on sandy and drier upland sites. It has leaves that are pointed at the apex, and that are semi-evergreen, not falling until just before new leaves are produced in the spring. Laurel Oak leaves are widest above the middle, while those of Upland Laure Oak are widest near the middle.--A. Diamond

**

Native FACW (NWPL)

**