Botanical synonym Q, diversicolor Trel.

Description Small to medium-sized evergreen tree to 40 feet tall, with broad rounded crown, or a shrub as low as 6 feet in height. Leaves broadly obovate, varying in form and size, 1 to 4 inches long, rounded at apex and slightly heart-shaped at base, edges with several small spiny teeth especially toward apex, thick and stiff, above dark green and slightly hairy and with veins sunken, beneath paler and yellow hairy and with a network of raised veins. Flowers of this and other oaks male in narrow hanging clusters and female 1 or few in leaf axils, in spring. Acorns 2 or 3 together on long stalk 1 to 4 inches long, 1/2 inch long, oblong, one-fourth enclosed by the shallow cup. Bark fissured and flaky, gray. Wood hard, light brown.

Distribution Uncommon in mountains and canyons, oak woodland zone, 4,000 to 8,000 feet elevation, in Mexican border region. New Mexico: mountains of southwestern corner in Luna, Hidalgo, and Grant Counties north to Mogollon Mountains. Arizona : southeastern part in Cochise, Graham, and Pima Counties ; also in southern Coconino County. Southwestern Texas to Arizona and northern Mexico.