We are following the treatment in the Flora of N. America[], and placing Quercus parvula Greene here as a syonym. However, some treatments accept Quercus parvula as a distinct species[].
The tendency for the tree members of the live oak group to produce rhizomatous growth and clonal shrubs in juvenile stages, and in response to damage, fire, and poor soil conditions, has led to considerable confusion in delimiting these species[].

Common Name: Sierra Live Oak

General Information

Quercus wislizenii is an evergreen shrub that only reaches 2.4 - 4 metres tall or, more commonly, a tree with a dense full crown that usually grows from 10 - 22 metres tall, exceptionally to 27 metres. The bole can be 30 - 90cm in diameter, exceptionally to more than 200cm[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content.
Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[].

Botanical References

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Range

South-western N. America - California, northern Baja California.

Habitat

Desert mountain slopes and sand chaparral, valleys; at elevations from 300 - 1,900 metres[, , ]. No more than a shrub when growing in the desert, it forms trees when growing in the sheltered coastal valleys[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Quercus wislizenii is native to the mediterranean climate of southern California with hot dry summers and cool, moist winters. It prefers warmer summers than are usually experienced in more northerly regions of the temperate zone. This species, however, has proved to be perfectly hardy, sometimes producing fertile seed, though growing slowly in Britain[, ].
The tree is tolerant of shade, particularly when young, and can occur within the understorey of some climax conifer forest. It prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[, ]. The plant generally grows well on a variety of soils including well-drained, fine-grained to cobbly or gravelly sandy loams, or skeletal soils. Soil pH generally ranges between 5.6 - 7.5, with common soil depths of 50 - 100cm. It grows particularly well on dry, shallow, well-drained loams, clay loams, gravelly loams, or gravel[]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[].
The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed taking two summers to ripen[, ].
Sierra live oak appears to be well-adapted to persist with or without fire. It occupies fire-prone chaparral but also grows in relatively mesic areas which burn at infrequent intervals. Large, single-stemmed trees are generally only found in areas which have not burned in 50 - 100 years. The plant is usually top-killed by fire, but resprouts freely from the base - where fires are frequent this produces dense thickets of multi-stemmed individuals [].
Closely related to Quercus agrifolia[].
Seedlings soon develop a taproot and become intolerant of root disturbance, they should be planted into their permanent positions whilst young[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, ]. A staple food of some native North American tribes[]. The narrowly conic or ovoid to narrowly oblong seed can be 21 - 44mm long and 8 - 14mm wide[].
The seed is usually cooked before eating, though it can also be eaten raw. It can be eaten whole, though it is more commonly dried, then ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.
In some species, especially many of those classified as 'white oaks', the seeds are low in tannins and have a more or less sweet and agreeable flavour. The seed of most species, however, have a very bitter flavour, due especially to the presence of tannins. In these species there are various processes that can remove or at least reduce the amount of these bitter substances (although other water-soluble substances, including some minerals, will also be removed).
Tannins are water-soluble and therefore the easiest way to remove or reduce tannin levels is by soaking in water. A few different methods are listed:-
A traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter and allow the wet soil to gradually leach the tannins. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency and bitterness.
Another method was to wrap the seeds in a cloth bag and place them in a stream for several weeks.
Drying the seed and grinding it to a powder before soaking speeds up the process. The fastest method is to use hot water, by cooking the powder and changing the water several times until the cooking water is no longer bitter. Alternatively, you can use cold water (which is reported to produce the best quality flour). In this case, you soak the powdered seed in cold water for 12 - 24 hours then discard the water. Repeat this process for a number of times until the soak water is no longer bitter.

The roasted seed of many Quercus species has been used as a coffee substitute.

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark has been used as a cough medicine[]. The pulverized outer bark has been used as an astringent and antiseptic dusting powder on burns and running sores and is particularly useful for babies with sore umbilicus[].

A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of arthritis[].

Quercus (oak) species are used in the traditional medicine of many cultures, being valued especially for their tannins. Various parts of the plant can be used, most frequently it is the leaves, bark, seeds, seed cups or the galls that are produced as a result of insect damage. A decoction or infusion is astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, styptic and haemostatic. It is taken internally to treat conditions such as acute diarrhea, dysentery and haemorrhages. Externally, it is used as a mouthwash to treat toothache or gum problems and is applied topically as a wash on cuts, burns, various skin problems, haemorrhoids and oral, genital and anal mucosa inflammation[]. Extracts of the plant can be added to ointments and used for the healing of cuts[, ].

Other Uses

The leaves of most species in this genus are more or less rich in tannins. A mulch of the partially decayed leaves can be placed around vulnerable plants in order to repel slugs, snails, grubs etc, and these will in time break down to add humus and nutrients to the soil. Fresh leaves should be used with caution, however, since as these decay they utilize some of the nitrogen in the soil and thus can inhibit plant growth[, ].

Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff and is also used by many cultures to make ink[, ].
The bark of oak trees is also usually rich in tannins and can be used as a dyestuff and for waterproofing rope[, ].

The acorn meal has been used to mend cracks in clay pots[].

The wood is heavy, very hard, strong, close grained but with poor durability. Used locally, but of no commercial value because the trunks are never tall or clear[, , ].
The wood is a highly valued firewood, burning well and giving off a lot of heat[, ].

Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.