Swamp Laurel Oak

The Quercus Laurifolia is commonly known as Coastal Laurel Oak, Darlington Oak, Diamond-leaf Oak, Laurel Oak, Laurel-leaf Oak, Obtusa Oak, Spotted Oak, Swamp Laurel Oak, as well as Water Oak

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Growing Regions

Laurel oak occurs on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the southeastern United States from southeastern Virginia to southern Florida and west to the extreme southeastern Gulf Coast of Texas. Disjunct populations occur north of its contiguous coastal range in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and South Carolina [27].

     

General Information

The historical nomenclature of laurel oak is complicated. In the past, most authorities, including Little [24], treated laurel oaks as a single species but differed on the appropriate scientific name [43]. More recent authorities [4,8,40,43] recognize two species, Quercus laurifolia and Q. hemisphaerica, based on anatomical differences and vast differences in site preferences. Diamond-leaf oak, swamp laurel oak, and laurel oak are common names for the wetland form, currently called Q. laurifolia and formerly called Q. obtusa. The upland form, currently called Q. hemisphaerica by some authorities, has acute leaf tips and flowers 2 weeks later than the wetland form in the same area [8,12,27]. This report recognizes one species of laurel oak under the scientific name of Quercus laurifolia L. [24,27]. Information from authors that recognize and discuss Q. hemisphaerica as a separate species is included and noted as such. Laurel oak has been placed within the subgenus Erythrobalanus, or black (red) oak group. Laurel oak is difficult to identify and is often confused with willow oak (Q. phellos) and water oak (Q. nigra) [40]. It has been suggested that laurel oak is a hybrid between these two species, but that may not be the case because willow oak is absent from southeastern Georgia and peninsular Florida where laurel oak is abundant [27]. Laurel oak hybridizes with the following species [24,27]: x Q. falcata (southern red oak): Q. X. beaumontiana Sarg. x Q. incana (bluejack oak): Q. X. atlantica Ashe x Q. laevis (turkey oak): Q. X. mellichampii Trel. x Q. marilandica (blackjack oak): Q. X. diversiloba Tharp ex A. Camus

Laurel oak is often present in forested wetlands, a transitional
community between swamps and pine (Pinus spp.) flatlands or mesic
hammocks.  It grows throughout hydric hammocks, from the swamp margin to
the drier sections, being replaced at the very dry end by live oak (Q.
virginiana) and water oak [43].  Q. hemisphaerica is present in high
hammocks which are situated between sand or clay hills and midslope
hammocks [34].  The following published classifications list laurel oak
as a dominant species:

   The natural communities of South Carolina [16]
   Eastern deciduous forest [45]
   Forest vegetation of the Big Thicket, southeast Texas [26]
   Forest associations in the uplands of the lower Gulf Coastal Plain [33]
   The natural features of southern Florida [6]
   Ecological processes and vegetation of the maritime strand in the
      southeastern United States [32]

• More Swamp Laurel Oak Information

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