Two Quercus phelloses IDed by noticing the two were the same species and using observations from each. The features include: two lanceolate, willow-esque leaves persisting through winter and into spring; smooth, gray bark of young willow oaks in the midst of transitioning into rough and irregular furrows; slender, hairless twig. The buds are supposed to be very small, reddish brown, and sharp pointed according to this website. These buds don’t match the small bud requirement. But given that the leaves are starting to sprout, the unusually long buds may just be the leaves distorting the normal bud shape.
