Species PlantsEngelmann Oak

Engelmann Oak

Quercus engelmannii

RarePlant
Illustration of Engelmann Oak (Quercus engelmannii)

Engelmann Oak, also called Mesa Oak or Pasadena Oak, is a rare semi-evergreen oak endemic to a small area of southwestern California and northern Baja California. Its entire range covers only about 100,000 acres, and it has been reduced to isolated remnant populations by urban sprawl, especially around San Diego and the Inland Empire. It grows on rocky mesas and foothills in a Mediterranean climate and is considered a species of conservation concern. Its large, sweet acorns were an important food for the Luiseño and Kumeyaay peoples.

Habitat
Rocky mesas, granitic foothills, coastal sage scrub margins, southern California
Diet
Acorns eaten by mule deer, scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, and squirrels
How common
Rare

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