I think this is the most beautiful kelloggii x wislizeni hybrid I've found
I found the Valley Oak I was looking for! This sapling is growing next to the Mountains to the Sea Trail, and appears to be unplanted. The tree has a plastic marker on it, shown in pictures 5-6. Unfortunately for me it currently has no galls.
Host to:
This tree has been posted by other users here:
Found in protected shorebird fencing during monitoring around 1-1 1/2 feet in diameter. Second photo is the plant 2 days after a storm surge
Seen in a fisherwoman’s bucket. She invited us to join her over the weekend.
Absolutely gorgeous orange, red, and brown fall colors which stand out strikingly in the montane chaparral landscape.
Some of the first Quercus garryana semota growing right off the PCT going southward from N2. However, some of the Q. berberidifolia around and before (i.e., further downhill from) them might be showing signs of introgression from Q. garryana semota.
Pics of mature trees, front and back side of a leaf, an acorn cap, two seemingly healthy acorns found in the brush underneath, and a 3-5 yr old seedling (last two photos). Notably, the acorn caps were quite large, only second largest to canyon live oak out of the oaks in the general vicinity.
Associated plants nearby include Pinus sabiniana, California buckeye, Q. berberidifolia, Q. x howellii, chaparral whitethorn, Q. wislizeni var. frutescens, California buckwheat, and Keckiella ternata.
A beautiful tree, very sad to see someone took a hatchet to its trunk recently.