Quercus berberidifolia (California Scrub Oak)
Photo by English: NPS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
about the species
Quercus berberidifolia, the California scrub oak, is a shrubby oak common in chaparral and dry foothill habitats across much of California. It is adapted to fire-prone environments and exhibits substantial morphological and ecological variation. Scrub oak often hybridizes with related oak species, contributing to the complexity of California’s oak diversity.
why species was selected
California scrub oak was selected because of its ecological breadth and role in oak hybridization. Genomic data can help resolve species boundaries, patterns of gene flow, and adaptation to fire and drought, informing management of chaparral and oak ecosystems.
Explore other species
Species
