The 14 Oak Species of the Lake Wales Ridge

5. Quercus pumila

Quercus pumila is commonly called Running Oak. It is also known as Quercus ellioti and is similar in appearance to Quercus incana, making identification difficult.

Running Oak are usually shorter than 6 feet (2m) tall when mature, and have longer hairs than Quercus incana. One may find a young Quercus incana and mistake it for a mature Quercus pumila. The hairs on Q. pumila are more than twice as long as the hairs on Q. incana.

Quercus pumila as collected in Colt Creek State Park.