Compton Hybrid Oak
Arbor Walk #128, TreeKeeper ID #1645
The Compton Hybrid Oak is a natural hybrid between the Southern Live Oak and the Overcup Oak and can be found in the areas with overlapping distributions of the two parent species. The leaves of these trees are interestingly semi-evergreen because the Southern Live Oak is evergreen and the Overcup Oak is deciduous. This means the foliage tends to last much longer on the plant compared to completely deciduous species.
This is a unique hybrid in that it is the offspring of members of two different sections of oaks, the live oaks and the white oaks. Live oaks are much more closely related to white oaks than they are red oaks, meaning that live oaks will hybridize with themselves and other white oaks (like the Overcup Oak) both, but not with red oaks.
| Common Name(s) | Compton Hybrid Oak |
|---|---|
| Latin Name | Quercus x comptoniae, Quercus lyrata x Q. virgiana |
| Indigenous Name(s) | |
| Cultivar/Variety | |
| Commercial Name |
Global Distribution of Overcup Oak (parent to the Compton Hybrid Oak)
Global Distribution of Southern Live Oak (parent to the Compton Hybrid Oak)
GPS Coordinates
N/A
Percent Concrete
N/A
Distance to Buildings
| Year | Close Building #1 | Close Building #2 | Close Building #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | McDonnell Hall, 10.43 m | Somers Family Hall, 13.48 m | Monsanto Labratory, 17.29 m |
Distance to Other Species
| Year | Close Species #1 | Close Species # 2 | Close Species # 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Northern Spicebush, 2.80 m | Northern Spicebush, 3.18 m | Northern Spicebush, 3.21 m |
Standard Measurements
| Year | Height (m) | DBH (cm) | Crown Diameter N-S (m) | Crown Diameter E-W (m) | Average Crown Diameter (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5.89 | 4.35 | 1.85 | 1.7 | 1.775 |
| 2024 | 8* | 7 | 2.32 | 2.52 | 2.42 |
Nests and Pests
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2023 | N/A |
Leaf Identification
The leaves of the Compton Hybrid Oak can have variable shapes and sizes, but it usually has lobed margins with pinnate veins. It can, however, have a completely entire margin. It has a leathery texture, and the entire leaf will be smooth (glabrous).
Twig and Bud Identification
The twigs of the Compton Hybrid Oak will be brown to reddish-brown and have light lenticels (pores). Like most oaks (Quercus), it has multiple terminal buds, and each bud has many scales.
Bark Identification
Compton Hybrid Oak’s bark is smooth when young, but with age, it gains deep furrows.
Fruit Identification
Like all oaks, Compton Hybrid Oak’s fruit is an acorn. The cupule (acorn top) encloses a third to three-fourths of the fruit, and the nut itself is pubescent. The acorn matures in late fall.
Flower Identification
The male flowers of the Compton Hybrid Oak are yellow-green, long catkins. The female flowers are much smaller and found in the leaf axils.
