Bear Oak         KWER-kus i-lis-i-FO-li-a

• Broadleaf deciduous shrub or small tree, to about 25 ft (~8 m) tall, irregular, often open crown, and a short trunk.  Slender spreading branches.  Leaves alternate, simple, firm, almost leathery, 5-12 cm long and 4-7 cm wide, with 3-7 shallow lobes, each toothed at the tip, upper surface glossy dark green, pale green to gray below.  Flowers small, male flowers in hairy, catkins 8-12 cm long, female flowers very small, usually in few flowered axillary clusters.  Fruit (acorn) matures in two seasons, small, 1-1.5 cm long, cup has thin, overlapping reddish-brown scales and encloses about 1/3 of the nut.
• Sun.  
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5     Native to northeastern U.S., from New York and New England states, south to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina.  Found on dry, sandy soils and open rocky outcrops.
• ilicifolia: Ilex- or holly-leaved .