Oaks of the World

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  Quercus depressa
Author

Bonpl. 1809 Pl. Aequinoct. 2: 50 pl. 92

Diagnosis here

Synonyms laurina Martens & Galeotti 1843, not Bonpl. 1809
subavenia Trel. 1924 Diagnosis here
Local names
Range Mexico (Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz ); endemic in Sierra Madre Oriental; 1800-3100 m;
Growth habit usually less than 1.2 m tall; rhizomatous;
Leaves

2-4 cm long, 1-2 wide; evergreen, coriaceous; elliptic to elliptic-oblong; apex acute, acuminate, aristate; base rounded or cuneate; margin entire or with 1-7 pairs of teeth; hairless above, or occasionally with some stellate trichomes near base of midrib; only axil tufts beneath, with sometimes fasciate hairs along veins, without glandular hairs; 5-8 pairs of secondary veins prominent or flat adaxially, remotely prominent underside or nearly flat; epidermis smooth or slightly papillose; petiole glabrescent 2-5 mm long; 

Flowers male catkins 2.5-4.5 cm long, rachis scarcely pubescent;
Fruits acorn 0.9-1.3 cm long, ovoid or almost globose, solitary or paired on a very short, 1-2 mm thick peduncle; cup enclosing 1/4 to 1/2 of nut, with triangular, slightly pubescent scales; maturing in 2 years, from August to November;  

Bark, twigs and
buds

bark greyish, finely fissured; twig slender, grey, hairless; bud 1-3 mm long, glabrous or nearly so; terminal bud 1-3 mm long, ovoid, with ovate scales ciliate at margin; stipules deciduous;
Hardiness zone, habitat hardy;
Miscellaneous -- A. Camus : n° 366;
-- Sub-genus Quercus, section Lobatae, Series Erythromexicanae;
-- Possible confusion with Q. galeanensis, but this one has stiff, strongly leathery leaves, oblong or oblanceolate in shape, with a subcordate or truncate base; it may be confused as well with Q. laurina and Q. affinis, but both are trees, not shrubs.

Subspecies and
varieties
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