Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis
Tamalpais oak
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Konshau Duman · licence
Family: Fagaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis (Tamalpais oak) is a native California shrub in the Fagaceae family, recognized by geographic isolation to Mt. Tamalpais and large toothed leaves.
Tamalpais oak is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the San Francisco Bay region on Mount Tamalpais in understory conifer woodland at elevations of 100 to 750 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces small greenish-yellow flowers characteristic of oak species. Growing as a compact shrub one to six meters tall with multiple stems, it develops a distinctive spreading form. Its leaves are notable for long-tapered dentate margins, measuring 8 to 14 centimeters long with petioles 5 to 15 millimeters in length. This localized oak variety represents a unique ecological component of Mount Tamalpais' understory plant community.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 19 sympatric species; geographic isolation to Mt. Tamalpais and large toothed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Understory conifer woodland
Elevation: 100-750 m
Bloom period
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Prunus: Quercus has acorns in cups; cherries/plums have fleshy round fruits.; vs Notholithocarpus: Quercus has drooping catkins; tanoak has upright flower spikes.; vs Rhamnus: Quercus has acorns; buckthorns have berry-like fruits.; vs Ceanothus: Quercus has acorns; California lilacs have small capsule fruits.; vs Platanus: Quercus has acorns; sycamores have hanging ball-shaped seed clusters.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis native to California?
Yes. Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis bloom?
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis belong to?
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis is in the Fagaceae family, genus Quercus.
Is Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis rare or endangered?
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2.
What habitat does Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis grow in?
Quercus parvula var. tamalpaisensis grows in Understory conifer woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.