KEY TO MONTEREY COUNTY OAKS (Quercus)

Leaves evergreen  (at least 2 crops of leaves on twigs at the same time)

            Leaves green on lower surface, old bark dark gray

                        Leaves convex, undersides with conspicuous veins. some tufts of
                        pubescence (fuzz) at midrib-vein junctions: Q. agrifolia  Coast Live Oak

                        Leaves flat, no pubescence on undersides: Q. wislinzenii Interior Live Oak

            Leaves dull green to gray on lower surface, leaf margins smooth or
            toothed, old bark pale gray:    Q. chrysolepis Canyon live oak.

Leaves not evergreen  (only 1 crop of leaves at a time)

               Leaves less than 3 cm long, many leaves remain
               most of winter, old leaves fall off as new leaves
               come, large shrubs or small trees:       Q. turbinella  Scrub Oak

               Leaves more than 3 cm long, leaves fall by early winter, small to
               large trees, mature individuals are never shrub-size.

                             Leaves deeply lobed, lobes with attenuated tips ending In distinct
                             bristles, bark dark gray:   Q. kelloggii  California black oak

                             Leaves with shallow to medium lobes, lobes usually with
                             rounded tips, bristles if present are less obvious, bark white or pale gray

                                           Upper leaf surface green, lobes regularly lobed, rounded;
                                           mature bark ridges deep, gray:  Q. lobata  Valley Oak

                                           Upper leaf surface blue (from a wax that rubs off), lobes
                                           may be rounded, irregular, some leaves may be entire, great
                                           variability between trees; mature bark ridges shallow, very
                                           light gray to white:                    Q. douglassii Blue Oak

Other: Q. garryana (Oregon Oak) in small populations at Fort Ord, Naciemento Boy Scount Camp and Plaskett Ridge.