Introductory
SPECIES: Quercus laurifolia | Laurel Oak 



ABBREVIATION : 
QUELAU

SYNONYMS : 
   Quercus laurifolia Michx.
   Quercus hemisphaerica Bartr.
   Quercus hemisphaerica var. maritima (Michx.)
   Quercus obtusa (Willd.) Ashe
   Quercus phellos L. var. laurifolia (Michx.) Chapman
   Quercus succulenta Small
   Quercus virginiana P. Mill. var. maritima (Michx.) Sarg.


SCS PLANT CODE : 
   QULA3


COMMON NAMES : 
   laurel oak
   Darlington oak
   diamond-leaf oak
   swamp laurel oak
   laurel-leaf oak
   water oak
   obtusa oak
   spotted oak
   coastal laurel oak


TAXONOMY : 
The historical nomenclature of laurel oak is complicated.  In the past,
most authorities, including Little [24], treated laurel oaks as a single
species but differed on the appropriate scientific name [43].  More
recent authorities [4,8,40,43] recognize two species, Quercus laurifolia
and Q. hemisphaerica, based on anatomical differences and vast
differences in site preferences.  Diamond-leaf oak, swamp laurel oak,
and laurel oak are common names for the wetland form, currently called
Q. laurifolia and formerly called Q. obtusa.  The upland form, currently
called Q. hemisphaerica by some authorities, has acute leaf tips and
flowers 2 weeks later than the wetland form in the same area [8,12,27].
This report recognizes one species of laurel oak under the scientific
name of Quercus laurifolia L. [24,27].  Information from authors that
recognize and discuss Q. hemisphaerica as a separate species is included
and noted as such.

Laurel oak has been placed within the subgenus Erythrobalanus, or black
(red) oak group.  Laurel oak is difficult to identify and is often
confused with willow oak (Q. phellos) and water oak (Q. nigra) [40].  It
has been suggested that laurel oak is a hybrid between these two
species, but that may not be the case because willow oak is absent from
southeastern Georgia and peninsular Florida where laurel oak is abundant
[27].

Laurel oak hybridizes with the following species [24,27]:

   x Q. falcata (southern red oak):  Q. X. beaumontiana Sarg.
   x Q. incana (bluejack oak):  Q. X. atlantica Ashe
   x Q. laevis (turkey oak):  Q. X. mellichampii Trel.
   x Q. marilandica (blackjack oak):  Q. X. diversiloba Tharp ex A. Camus


LIFE FORM : 
Tree

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : 
No special status

OTHER STATUS : 
NO-ENTRY


COMPILED BY AND DATE : 
Jennifer H. Carey, Sept. 1992


LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : 
NO-ENTRY


AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : 
Carey, Jennifer H. 1992. Quercus laurifolia. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Quercus laurifolia | Laurel Oak