The geminata in Quercus geminata is Latin for twin and refers to its acorns which occur in pairs. The largest known sand live oak, located in Gainsville, Florida, is 94 ft. tall and almost 5 ft. in diameter. Sand live oak wood is very strong. Because of this, sand live oaks were the preferred source for the framework timbers of ships. Sand live oak is native to the U.S. and is in the Fagaceae (Beech Family). Sand live oak is very similar to live oak (Quercus virginiana) in appearance.

Photo Credit: © Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University, Bugwood.org.
Quercus geminata
Common Name: sand live oak
Plant Functional Group: Semi-evergreen broadleaf
Class > Order > Family: Magnoliopsida > Fagales > Fagaceae
What does the species look like?   Quercus germinata is a perennial, monoecious, broad leaf, evergreen shrub or tree that grows to 30 feet in height. Its bark is dark brown or black and scaly. Its buds are reddish or dark brown. Its leaves are thick, leathery, whitish to light green on the under surface and glossy and dark green on the upper surface. There are fine, pale, grayish hairs on the surface of the leaves, and the upper surface shows strong impressions at the veins. The leaves of the sand live oak are distinctly boat- shaped and roll down and inward, a feature that helps distinguishes it from live oak. Its flowers are cream or tan. Its fruits are brownish acorns with dark brown nuts.   Quercus geminata is most common in the Lower Coastal Plain, in open evergreen woodlands and scrublands on deep, infertile, sandy soils. It grows in full sun, and tolerates drought and salt spray.   The acorns provide food for wildlife such as quail, jays, wood duck, sapsucker, wild turkey, black bear, squirrel, and white-tailed deer. The dense crown of the tree provides nest sites for some bird species.  
Where is the species found?
States & Provinces
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
Special Considerations for Observing
If drought seems to be the cause of leaf color or fall for a plant, please make a comment about it for that observation.
 
This species has separate male and female flowers.
 
Sand live oak is very similar to Quercus virginiana in appearance. Be sure to verify the identification of your selected plants.
Which phenophases should I observe?
Do you see...?
Leaves Breaking leaf buds
One or more breaking leaf buds are visible on the plant. A leaf bud is considered "breaking" once a green leaf tip is visible at the end of the bud, but before the first leaf from the bud has unfolded to expose the leaf base at its point of attachment to the leaf stalk (petiole) or stem.
More...

How many buds are breaking?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000

Young leaves
One or more young, unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. A leaf is considered "young" and "unfolded" once its entire length has emerged from a breaking bud, stem node or growing stem tip, so that the leaf base is visible at its point of attachment to the leaf stalk (petiole) or stem, but before the leaf has reached full size or turned the darker green color or tougher texture of mature leaves on the plant. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves.

How many young leaves are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000

Leaves
One or more live, unfolded leaves are visible on the plant. A leaf is considered "unfolded" once its entire length has emerged from a breaking bud, stem node or growing stem tip, so that the leaf base is visible at its point of attachment to the leaf stalk (petiole) or stem. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves.
More...

What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with leaves? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space.

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more

Increasing leaf size
A majority of leaves on the plant have not yet reached their full size and are still growing larger. Do not include new leaves that continue to emerge at the ends of elongating stems throughout the growing season.
More...

What percentage of full size are most leaves?

  • Less than 25%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more

Colored leaves
One or more leaves show some of their typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to drought or other stresses. Do not include small spots of color due to minor leaf damage, or dieback on branches that have broken. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves that remain on the plant.
More...

What percentage of the potential canopy space is full with non-green leaf color? Ignore dead branches in your estimate of potential canopy space.

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more

Falling leaves
One or more leaves with typical late-season color, or yellow or brown due to other stresses, are falling or have recently fallen from the plant. Do not include fully dried or dead leaves that remain on the plant for many days before falling.
More...


Flowers Flowers or flower buds
One or more fresh open or unopened flowers or flower buds are visible on the plant. Include flower buds or inflorescences that are swelling or expanding, but do not include those that are tightly closed and not actively growing (dormant). Also do not include wilted or dried flowers. For Quercus geminata, the male inflorescence is a catkin which is initially compact and stiff, but eventually unfolds to become longer and hang loosely from the branch. Female flowers are very small and petal-less, emerging from the growing stem at the point where a new leaf is attached.
More...

How many flowers and flower buds are present? For species in which individual flowers are clustered in flower heads, spikes or catkins (inflorescences), simply estimate the number of flower heads, spikes or catkins and not the number of individual flowers.

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000

Open flowers
One or more open, fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered "open" when the reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) are visible between or within unfolded or open flower parts (petals, floral tubes or sepals). Do not include wilted or dried flowers. For Quercus geminata, the male flowers will open once the initially compact catkin has unfolded and is hanging loosely. Female flowers are open when the pistils are visible, but will be very difficult to see where they are out of reach.
More...

What percentage of all fresh flowers (buds plus unopened plus open) on the plant are open? For species in which individual flowers are clustered in flower heads, spikes or catkins (inflorescences), estimate the percentage of all individual flowers that are open.

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more

Pollen release
One or more flowers on the plant release visible pollen grains when gently shaken or blown into your palm or onto a dark surface.
More...

How much pollen is released?

  • Little: Only a few grains are released.
  • Some: Many grains are released.
  • Lots: A layer of pollen covers your palm, or a cloud of pollen can be seen in the air when the wind blows

Fruits Fruits
One or more fruits are visible on the plant. For Quercus geminata, the fruit is a nut (acorn), partially covered with a "cap", that changes from green to brown or black-brown.
More...

How many fruits are present?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000

Ripe fruits
One or more ripe fruits are visible on the plant. For Quercus geminata, a fruit is considered ripe when it has turned brown or black-brown.
More...

What percentage of all fruits (unripe plus ripe) on the plant are ripe?

  • Less than 5%
  • 5-24%
  • 25-49%
  • 50-74%
  • 75-94%
  • 95% or more

Recent fruit or seed drop
One or more mature fruits or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature fruits that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty fruits that had long ago dropped all of their seeds but remained on the plant.
More...

How many mature fruits have dropped seeds or have completely dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit?

  • Less than 3
  • 3 to 10
  • 11 to 100
  • 101 to 1,000
  • 1,001 to 10,000
  • More than 10,000

What do these phenophases look like?

There is currently no photoguide available for this species. If you'd like help us create one, use the guidance document and species template provided here. Then send it via email to education@usanpn.org when it is complete.