Quercus durata, Leather Oak
by Doreen Smith
Leather oak, Quercus durata, is common and nearly always found on serpentine-derived soils. In Marin this scrub oak grows in the chaparral of Mt. Tamalpais, Big Rock Ridge and Mt. Burdell.
“Our other scrub oak, Quercus berberidifolia, is very uncommon here, not on serpentine, and only easily discovered near Gold Grade fire-road halfway up the San Pedro Mountain behind Dominican University, San Rafael.
Photos by Vernon and Doreen Smith
Quercus durata var. durata – (leather oak)
Quercus durata var. durata – (leather oak)
Quercus berberidifolia – (scrub oak)