Blue Oak is a California endemic of the hot, dry foothills surrounding the Central Valley, named for the striking blue-gray hue of its small, shallowly lobed leaves. It is one of the most drought-tolerant of all North American oaks, surviving on rocky soils with extremely low summer rainfall by going semi-dormant and closing its stomates during the driest months. Blue Oak woodlands are among California's most biodiverse terrestrial habitats, supporting over 2,000 plant and animal species.
Habitat
Dry rocky foothills, chaparral margins, hot valley slopes, California interior
Diet
Acorns eaten by acorn woodpeckers, scrub jays, deer, black bears, and ground squirrels
How common
Common
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