Quercus laurifolia Michaux. Laurel Oak. Phen: Mar-Apr; Sep-Nov (of the second year). Hab: Mesic to seasonally flooded soils of floodplains, also (rarely) mesic slopes and swamps in maritime forests. Dist: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: se. VA south to s. FL and west to e. TX and s. AR.
ID notes: Sometimes confused with Q. hemisphaerica, but (in addition to the key characters above) Q. laurifolia has blunter leaf tips, flowers about 2 weeks earlier, and generally occupies much moister habitats.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy: = Ar, C, F, FNA3, G, GW2, K1, K3, K4, Tx, Va, Hunt (1990); = Quercus obtusa (Willd.) Ashe – S; < Quercus laurifolia Michx. – Fl2, RAB, WH3
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