Quercus oleoides facts for kids

The Quercus oleoides, also known as encina or encino in Spanish, is a type of oak tree. It belongs to a group of oaks called "southern live oaks." These trees are found in dry forests and grassy areas across eastern and southern Mexico and much of Central America. You can find them from Guanacaste Province in Costa Rica all the way north to the State of Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.

What the Encina Oak Looks Like

The encina oak is a tree that grows slowly. It usually reaches a height of about 8 to 15 meters (26 to 49 feet). Its leaves are a pale gray color and stay on the tree all year round, which means they are evergreen. The leaves are thick and hard. They are typically 4 to 11 centimeters (1.6 to 4.3 inches) long and 2 to 5 centimeters (0.8 to 2 inches) wide. They have an oblong or oval shape.

Flowers and Reproduction

This oak tree flowers from December through May. It produces two kinds of flowers. The male flowers grow in long, hanging clusters called catkins, which are about 3 to 4 centimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) long. The female flowers also grow in catkins, but these are much shorter, only 3 to 30 millimeters (0.12 to 1.2 inches) long. Each female catkin can have one to six small flowers, each about 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) long.

Its Wood

The wood of the encina oak is very heavy. It has a special pattern where the grains cross over each other. The outer part of the wood, called the sapwood, is white. The inner part, known as the heartwood, is brown.