Get your gestalt on - oaks with lobed leaves at FSU

Family: FAGACEAE or the beech family which includes Oaks

There are 24 species of oak (trees and shrubs) in Florida, and 50-60 in North America north of the border so it is no small task to sort them all out. Acorns! When present these provide a good clue you are dealing with an oak. That is a good first step (if they are present at the time of year that you are looking). However more than few of the deciduous oaks look superficially similar, so you need to be pretty sharp to distinguish them. Here we look at a few examples that are multi-lobed (3-9+) and bristle tipped, these include Shumard oak and Nutall's oak. Mostly we have Shumard and Nutall's oaks planted on the FSU campus - and often in close proximity. Included for interest is turkey oak, there are none on campus but it is common in Tallahassee. In this posting we look at all three together to facilitate their comparison.

Quercus shumardii

Shumard oak - Quercus shumardii

Description: Medium to large deciduous tree up to 30 m tall.Flowers: Long narrow hanging catkins 14-18 cm long. Fruit: Acorn, solitary or in pairs, 1.5-2.5 cm long, cup shallow saucer shape and enclosing about a third of the nut. Leaves:7-15cm long and 6-12 cm wide alternate, simple and and lobed with 7 or sometimes more lobes, each lobe with several smaller secondary lobes, upper surfaces dark green, lower surfaces also shiny green but with small tufts of pubescence in the vein axils, old and fallen leaves with black spots on the surface.



Similar to: Distinguish from the other bristle tipped and lobed oaks by having only tufts of pubescence on lower leaf surface and by having straight rather than twisted petioles, and from the species most similar to it black oak Q. velutina by have more than sevel lobes. The shorter, relatively wide leaf distinguishes sterile specimens from Nuttall oak.

Map of Shumard oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

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Quercus nuttallii from the Louisiana State University website

Nuttall oak - Quercus texana and formerly Q. nuttallii

Description: A deciduous tree to 25+ m in height. Bark dark brown with flat ridges divided by shallow fissures. Twigs red-brown to gray. Flowers: Male flowers borne from tips in conspicuous hanging catkins. Fruit: Acorn 2-3 cm long, biennial; cup thin (scale bases visible on inner surface), deeply goblet-shaped with pronounced constriction at base. Leaves:alternate, simple 7-20 cm long x 5-13 cm with 6-11 asymetric lobes and 9-24 awns, lobes; lower leaf surfaces hairless except for conspicuous axillary tufts of tomentum, veins raised, upper surface not raised and free of hairs.



Similar to: Occurs only in cultivation in Florida but is native in nearby Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi where it is common in wetlands. Bristles or awn like tips of leaves less acute or numerous than Shumard oak.

Map of Nuttall oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

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Quercus laevis

Turkey oak - Quercus laevis

Description: A small deciduous tree to 15m in height with grey furrowed and blocky bark. Flowers: Male flowers borne from tips in conspicuous hanging catkins 8-12 cm long. Fruit: Acorn 2-3 cm long, wide at base and tapering to apex. Leaves:alternate, simple 7-30 cm long with 3-7 deeply cut bristle tipped lobes, bases tapered, lower surfaces hairy in the vein axils and petioles twisted so the leaves are held verticle to the ground.

Similar to: Distinguished from southern red oak Q. falcata by a lack of rusty tomentose undersurface on leaves, but the tapered rather than U shaped leaf bases of post oak (Q. stellata) and from sand-post oak by the leaf lobes being pointed rather than rounded.

Map of turkey oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee (there are none known at this time)

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Japanese privet

Family: OLEACEAE the OLIVE family

Japanese privet Ligustrum japonicum is one of three types of privet on campus.

Ligustrum japonicum or Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–6 m. It is commonly planted as a hedge because of its foliage and fragrant flowers. The plant is dispersed by birds and is quite shade tolerant. This has helped it establish wild populations in Florida and elsewhere around the world.

Description: Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 2–6 m with smooth, pale grey-brown bark. Flowers: Fragrant white, with a four-lobed corolla 5–6 mm long; they are borne in clusters 7–15 cm long in early summer. Fruit: An oval drupe, 10 mm long ripening to purple black coler. Leaves: Opposite 5–10 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, glossy dark green above, paler glaucous to yellowish green below, thick and leathery textured, and entire.

Similar to: Japanese privet is closely related to the Chinese privet Ligustrum lucidum, differing in its smaller size (L. lucidum being as tall as 10 m), and elongated oval (not subglobose) fruit

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Most of the Japanese privet on campus are not of sufficient size to be called a tree on FSU grounds in Tallahassee, this shows the larger specimens.

Quercus geminata Sand Live Oak

Family: FAGACEAE or beech family

Sand live oak, St. Joe's Bay.

Sand live oaks Q. geminata are similar to live oaks Q. virginiana. Only a few are on Florida State University campus, and they can look similar when grown in similar conditions. It is widespread in southern Florida all the way to the Keys and from Louisiana to North Carolina. It is not restricted to beaches, and is also found in sand-pine scrub, coastal hammocks and similar habitats.

Description: Roughly ridged bark. Flowers: hanging catkins. Fruit: Shiny dark brown acorns often black at tip, 1-2 cm long. Leaves:alternate, simple and entire, thick and leathery 2-12cm long x 0.5-4 cm wide, dull grey below.

Similar to: Sand live oak, (Quercus virginiana) which does not have depressed veins and revolute leaf margins (looking like a boat when looked at from the bottom). The bark is not as rough either.

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Flora of North America Illustrations including both Sand Live Oak and Live Oak


See specimens in the FSU herbarium.

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Map of sand live oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Crape myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica

Family: LYTHRACEAE the pomegranite and purple loosestrife family

Crepe myrtle or Lagerstroemia indica

Crape myrtle is the most common ornamental tree or large shrub on campus. Originally from Asia this plant is a popular ornamental in Florida and beyond. There are various >30 cultivars which were selected for their flower form and timing, plus disease resistance (especially against powdery mildew).
Description: Deciduous shrub or small tree to 8+ m in height with twisted branches and smooth brown bark. Flowers: a showy panicle (branched cluster of flowers) about 30 cm long. Colors white, pink, red or purple. Fruit: Egg shaped capsule. Leaves:Opposite or alternate, simple, mainly elliptic 2-7 cm long 1-4 cm wide.

Similar to: Pretty distinctive, not many similar plants.

Winged seeds of crape myrtle Photo: Steve Hurst. Provided by ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. United States, FL.

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A clickable map of crape myrtle on FSU grounds in Tallahassee.

The Hollies - on campus

Family: AQUIFOLIACEAE the holly family

Holly or Ilex vomitoria though we are considering all the types on the FSU campus in this posting.

The Holly (Ilex) genus is popular among landscape architects, nurserymen and home gardeners. Botanists recognize approximately 470 taxa including 20 American Holly species, 120 Oriental species, and nearly 200 varieties of the English Holly. Many of the cultivars establish wild self-sustaining population in fields and near planted areas. The fruit are commonly dispersed by frugiverous birds. Shrubs or trees, mostly evergreen. Not all hollies have spiny leaves like the ones we associate with Christmas wreaths. There are least 5 varieties or species of tree sized hollies on campus.

Description: Shrub or small tree to 20+ m in height, mostly evergreen. Flowers: Flowers usually unisexual, usually 4-merous; petals connate at base. Stamens sometimes slightly united at base. Fruit: Usually globose and often bright red. Leaves:Usually alternate.

Similar to: This variable group of species likely to be similar to many other taxa but the fruit and flowers are often distinctive

 East Palatka Holly ( Ilex x attenuata 'East Palatka') growing at Rovetta Hall this is a natural hybrid between Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine) and Amercian Holly (Ilex opaca) that was discovered in 1927 growing near East Palatka,Florida

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A clickable map of all holly species and cultivars that have the size of a tree on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Quercus virginiana an outstanding tree.

Family: FAGACEAE or beech family

A medium sized live oak on FSU campus.

Live oaks stand out among trees in Tallahassee providing a lasting first impression for visitors. In the FSU's picturesque park like grounds live oaks grow into impressive sprawling specimens dripping in mosses (lichens) and ferns. On hot summer days they provide welcome shade. Though these oaks are evergreen they lose and replace  their leaves year round.

Description: Large sprawling tree up 30+ m tall.Flowers: hanging catkins. Fruit: Shiny dark brown acorns often black at tip, 1-2.5 cm long. Leaves:alternate, simple and entire, leathery 2-15cm long x 1-5 cm wide, pale grey and slightly tomentose below.

Similar to: Sand live oak, (Quercus geminata) which has depressed veins and revolute leaf margins.

Live oak Acorns. Photo: Steve Hurst. Provided by ARS Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. United States, FL.


See specimens in the FSU herbarium.

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Map (click on points for information) of live oaks on FSU grounds in Tallahassee

Bluford W. Muir. Provided by National Agricultural Library. Originally from US Forest Service. United States, LA, New Orleans, Audubon Park. 1937.

FSU's Patriarch Oaks

During the summer of 2010, the Grounds and Landscaping Department at Florida State University inducted eight trees into the Leon County Patriarch Oak Program.  The Southern Live Oaks that qualified for the Patriarch designation all have a diameter at breast height (DBH) of at least 72 inches. A basal area of this size suggests that the tree is more than 160 years old, making it older than the West Florida Seminary, from which FSU would eventually arise. The role that these trees have played in setting a foundation for our heritage and landscapes at FSU is quite significant.  The oaks stood on the grounds as the first buildings were constructed for the West Florida Seminary, which eventually became Florida State University.
One tree in particular, located at the heart of campus and at the heart of our intellectual center, the James P. Love Oak, stands outside Strozier Library, its massive branches ushering students toward knowledge. This tree, named for James Pasco Love, the FSU Farm and Dairy Operations manager from 1920 until 1958, is arguably the most recognizable tree on campus.  Love accepted the position of farm superintendent from Florida State College for Women (FSCW) business manager J. G. Kellum, and “Pasco,” as he was known, moved his wife, Bessie, and their family to Tallahassee from Alachua County.  A major factor in his accepting the position was the opportunity for his children to gain a college education.  All six of his children went on to graduate from college, five of them here in Tallahassee.
The Love family cottage stood aside the large oak tree in front of Strozier Library.  Love raised his family under this tree and managed the farm that provided food and milk for students at the Florida State College for Women.  The farm, which became a fairly extensive operation and was located on what is now west campus, grew from 200 to 900 acres over time and housed beef cattle, a variety of vegetables, hogs, a dairy herd, and upwards of 2,000 chickens.  Sitting at the foot of Landis Green, the “Love Oak” has witnessed all the institutional and cultural changes throughout the history of our school, embedding it into the complex heritage and culture of FSU.  
To help students, alumni, and campus visitors better understand the unique heritage and origins of the university, the FSU Arboretum, still in its infancy, will be connecting patriarch, heritage, and specimen trees with well-known and some lesser-known iconic figures from FSU’s past.  Starting with the Love Oak, the father of FSU’s Patriarch and Heritage trees, the FSU Arboretum is endeavoring on a mission to bring to light the cultural significance of these trees to the university and local communities alike, while underscoring the consequences of their loss as the campus grows.
Aside from the patriarch tree program, the FSU Arboretum is also seeking to dedicate trees or groups of trees as FSU Heritage trees.  Heritage trees differ from Patriarch trees in that their sheer size is not what dictates their importance.  The characteristics that afford a tree the Heritage designation arose from the trees’ proximity to historic structures and their ecological importance or storied pasts.  As trees with a historic significance are identified and connected with persons of interest, there will be an opportunity for those visiting campus to become better acquainted with the cultural and natural history of our grounds and the City of Tallahassee via informational placards placed near the trees.