Foothill. Shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 18, 2007.

Quercus turbinella occurs in all of the Four Corners states but is uncommon.  It grows to about four meters tall but more commonly, as shown here, is a thick shrub in shape, about five feet by five feet.  It can be solitary, as it usually is in the Four Corners area, or it can form thickets.

"Turbinella" is from the Latin for "a little top" and perhaps refers to the shape of the long, narrow acorn.  Edward Greene named and described this tree in 1889.

Foothill. Shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 18, 2007.

Leaves, which are quite distinctive and lovely, are about a half inch wide and an inch long, much smaller than those of the very common Quercus gambelii.  They are pubescent with a number of stellate hairs and they are sharply toothed, giving rise to the common name, "Holly Oak".