Valley Oak © Herbert Clarke

spreading

Description Large, handsome tree with stout, short trunk and large, widely spreading branches drooping at ends, forming broad, open crown.
Height: 40-100' (12-30 m).
Diameter: 3-4' (0.9-1.2 m), sometimes much greater.
Leaves: 2-4" (5-10 cm) long and 1 1/4-2 1/2" (3-6 cm) wide. Elliptical, rounded or blunt at both ends; deeply 7- to 11-lobed more than halfway to midvein, larger lobes broadest and notched at end. Dark green and nearly hairless above, paler and finely hairy beneath.
Bark: light gray or brown; thick, deeply furrowed and broken horizontally into thick plates.
Acorns: 1 1/4-2 1/4" (3-6 cm) long; oblong, pointed, 1/3 enclosed by deep, half-round cup with light brown scales, the lowest ones thick and warty or knobby; sweetish and edible; maturing first year.

Habitat Valleys and slopes on rich loam soils; forming groves in foothill woodland.

Range N. to S. California, also Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina islands; to 5000' (1524 m).

Discussion Valley Oak is the largest of the western deciduous oaks and a handsome, graceful shade tree. This relative of the eastern White Oak (Quercus alba L.) is common through California's interior valleys. Acorn crops, often abundant, are consumed by many kinds of wildlife and domestic animals, especially hogs. California Indians roasted these large acorns and also ground edible portion into meal which they prepared as bread or mush.