The Coastal Live Oak, part of the beech family, has a trunk with a diameter of 3 -4 meters (when full grown,) with dark green, oval leaves. The margin of the leaf is spiny toothed, and the outer layers of leaves are designed for maximum solar absorption with layers of photosynthetic cells. This oak produces both male and female flowers; the male flowers are overhanging catkins 5–10 centimeters long, the female flowers inconspicuous, less than 0.5 cm long, with 1-3 clustered together. The fruit is a slender reddish brown acorn 2-3.5 cm long and 1-1.5 cm broad.
