# interior live oak (*Quercus wislizeni*) The interior live oak is a strong tree with thick, shiny leaves. It provides shade and homes for many animals. This tree can live for a very long time and is great for the environment! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Forests ![interior live oak](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Interior_live_oak_twig_with_acorn.JPG&width=800) Photo: Benny White, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Interior_live_oak_twig_with_acorn.JPG) ## Appearance The interior live oak is an evergreen tree with dark, furrowed bark and a dense, rounded crown. Its stiff, leathery leaves are dark green and often have spiny, toothed edges, setting it apart from many other oaks with lobed leaves. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fagales - **Family:** Fagaceae - **Genus:** Quercus ## Interesting facts - It can live for hundreds of years, an ancient witness to California's history! - It keeps its green leaves all year long, never losing them in winter! - Its wood is so dense and strong, people once compared it to iron! - Native Americans historically ground interior live oak acorns into flour after special preparation! ## Special abilities - **Fire Survivor:** The interior live oak can resprout from its base after wildfires, helping it survive and regrow quickly. - **Drought Master:** It has deep roots and tough, leathery leaves to help it conserve water in dry California climates. - **Year-Round Food:** This oak produces acorns that provide a crucial food source for many animals through fall and winter. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 600-2000 cm - **Spread:** 300-1500 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Western gray squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — Feeds on acorns, aiding seed dispersal. - **Eats:** [Mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Browses on foliage and fallen acorns. - **Parasitizes:** Filbertworm (*Cydia latiferreana*) — Larvae develop inside ripening acorns. - **Shelter:** [Blue-gray gnatcatcher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-gray-gnatcatcher) (*Polioptila caerulea*) — Builds tiny nests within its branches. ## Traits - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Nut Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nut-bearing): Nut bearing plants produce hard-shelled fruits, commonly known as nuts, which contain a single seed and are a valuable food source. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and watch out for falling branches! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify interior live oak? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is interior live oak? 600-2000 cm ### How wide does interior live oak spread? 300-1500 cm ### When does interior live oak bloom? Spring ### Is interior live oak edible? Yes ### Is interior live oak toxic? None ### What is interior live oak's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is interior live oak pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Alder Creek Grove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alder-creek-grove) — California, US · Forest - [Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-diamond-mines-regional-preserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Lake Oroville State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-oroville-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [San Joaquin Experimental Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-joaquin-experimental-range) — California, US · Forest - [Columbia State Historic Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/columbia-state-historic-park) — California, US · State Park - [Knights Ferry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/knights-ferry) — California, US · Historic Site [View all places to see interior live oak](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/interior-live-oak) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Interior Live Oak: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/interior-live-oak)