Oak, Mohr

Quercus mohriana, commonly known as the Mohr oak, shin oak or scrub oak, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the white oak group and is endemic to the south central montane regions of North America (Oklahoma and Texas). The species name mohriana honors the pharmacist and botanist Charles Mohr of Alabama. The Mohr oak can be a small tree 12-36 ft high or a large thicket-forming shrub. The preferred habitat of this oak is on dry limestone or calcareous slopes at a height of between 2000 and 8200 feet above sea level, in chaparral and desert scrub savanna. It thrives in regions that receive less than twenty five inches of annual rainfall.

The LEAVES have a short petiole to 1?4 inch (6 mm); thick and leathery oblong to elliptical, 1 1?8 – 3 inches (29 – 76 mm) long, 3?4 – 1 1?4 inches (19 – 32 mm) wide, rounded base, apex rounded or acute, margin usually entire and wavy, may have a few teeth, shiny dark green above, grayish pubescence beneath with prominent raised secondary veins. Deciduous and evergreen depending upon location, simple, alternate; venation pinnate.

FLOWERS: The inflorescence, which appears in spring, is reddish. There are female catkins with one to three flowers and male catkins with numerous flowers. Unisexual , Monoecious.

FRUIT: The acorn cups are deep and the acorns grow singly or in pairs and are light brown, broadly ovoid with a rounded apex. Acorns produce annually; 1 – 2 acorns produced on a peduncle to 5?8 inch (16 mm); deep cup with pubescent scales, and enclosing 1?2 of nut; oval to broadly elliptical, brown nut to 5?8 inch (16 mm) in length.

The BARK is light brown, rough and deeply furrowed.

The TWIGS are yellowish or whitish, with short velvety hairs, becoming smooth with age. The BUDS are dark red-brown, sparsely covered with hairs.