Foothill. Shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 18, 2007.

Quercus turbinella occurs in all of the Four Corners states but is uncommon.  It grows to about twenty feet tall but more commonly, as shown here, is a thick shrub in shape, about six feet by six feet.  It can be solitary, as it usually is in the Four Corners area, or it can form thickets.

"Turbinella" is from the Latin for "a little top" and perhaps refers to the shape of the long, narrow acorn.  Edward Greene named and described this tree in 1889.

Foothill. Shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 28, 2009.

Leaves, which are quite distinctive and lovely, are about a half inch wide and an inch long, much smaller than those of the very common Quercus gambelii.  They are pubescent with a number of stellate hairs and they are sharply toothed, giving rise to the common name, "Holly Oak".  The leaves shown here are new; those above are hanging on the tree from the previous year.  Notice the dried pollen chain at the bottom of the photograph at left.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Quercus turbinella