Quercus geminata Small. Subgenus: Quercus. Section: Virentes. Sand Live Oak. Phen: Apr; Sep-Nov (of the same year). Hab: Xeric sandhills (northward restricted to areas very near the coast), Florida scrub (especially yellow sands), coastal dry hammocks. Dist: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: se. NC south to s. FL, and west to s. MS

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: The alleged occurrence of Q. geminata as far north as se. VA is apparently based on ambiguous specimens that probably are only Q. virginiana (the so-called var. maritima). A careful study of the genetics, morphology, and ecology of Q. geminata and Q. virginiana supports their recognition as separate species (Cavender-Bares & Pahlich 2009). Q. geminata flowers about 2-3 weeks later than Q. virginiana when growing in close proximity. In fire-suppressed xeric sandhills in the FL peninsula it can form dense shrub-thickets.

Synonymy: = Fl2, FNA3, GW2, K1, K3, S, S13, WH3; < Quercus virginiana Mill. – RAB

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ?: 8