| Bear Oak is a shrub of dry, rocky soil found in only a few isolated locations on monadnock mountains in the Piedmont of North Carolina, the southern limit of its range. Surprisingly, it is not known from the Mountain region of NC. In Virginia it is more widespread and primarily found in the Mountains. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 5/27/12.
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| Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 5/27/12.
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| The tree is named ilicifolia for the slight resemblance of its leaves to those of the European Holm Oak (Quercus ilex). Holly (Ilex spp.) also gets its name for its resemblance to Holm Oak (not vice versa, as you might guess). Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| The leaf undersides are pale and densely white-hairy. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Detail of leaf underside. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Female flowers. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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| Male flowers are in catkins (right). Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Immature acorn. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Immature acorns. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Young branches are densely hairy. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| Bark of a small individual. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 6/14/09.
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| The rough bark may be completely covered by lichens. Hanging Rock, Stokes Co., NC 5/27/12.
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| Bark of a large individual. Pilot Mountain, Surry Co., NC 5/16/10.
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More information:
USDA PLANTS database
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides
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