Quercus microphylla
A small shrub in the oak family native to Mexico, 0.4–2 m tall, with elliptic leaves 1.8–5 cm long and yellowish tomentose undersides, 1–1.5 cm acorns half-enclosed in a scaly cup, prefers dry habitats and is not hardy, first described in 1801
Summary
Native to Mexico, distributed from Oaxaca north to Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas, this oak forms a low, dense shrub with mats spreading across the ground and rarely exceeding 60 cm in height. Leaves are tiny by oak standards, usually under 35 mm long, with adaxial grey-green, rough blades bearing stalkless stellate trichomes and abaxial yellowish persistent tomentose surfaces.
It occurs at elevations of 2000–3000 m in dry places and is not hardy.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1.3–6.6 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones none
Soil Type
Limestone soils
Foliage Color
lustrous grey-green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Née
- Publication
- Anales Ci. Nat. 3: 264 (1801)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Fagales
- Family
- Fagaceae
- Genus
- Quercus
- Subgenus
- Quercus subgen. Quercus
- Section
- Quercus sect. Quercus
Synonyms
Quercus macrocarpa Quercus microphylla var. uhdeana Quercus repanda Cerris microphyla Quercus frutex var. uhdeana