Scrub Oak
‘Ehwap
‘Iipay Aa name: ‘ehwap
Common name: scrub oak
Scientific name: Quercus berberidifolia
Scrub oak, or ‘ehwap in ‘Iipay Aa, is a shrub that grows to about ten feet tall and ten feet wide. Its leaves are dull green and leathery; they have tiny hairs on their underside and spiny edges. The flowers, which bloom in the winter and spring, ultimately produce acorns that ripen between August and October. The brown acorns are about a half inch long and are egg-shaped. The thick, leathery leaves help the scrub oak retain moisture in the dry seasons. This plant has a very deep root system that can find water all year round.
The acorns provide food for scrub jays, acorn woodpeckers, squirrels, woodrats, and many other animals. The squirrels and jays will eat the acorns as soon as they gather them or they will hide them to eat later. Deer and bears will sometimes eat the young leaves of the scrub oak.
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Kumeyaay People would leach the bitter tannins from these acorns and turn them into a mush for food. The scrub oak acorns are not a favorite because they do not taste as good as other acorns. The tannin can be used as a yellow dye. The wood of the scrub oak has been used to make throwing sticks and cradleboards.