Discover the Emory Oak, a species of oak common in Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, as well as northern Mexico. It is an evergreen that thrives in dry hills at moderate altitudes and is a large shrub or small tree that can grow up to 56 feet tall. With leaves that are dark green above and paler below, and acorns that mature in 6-8 months and have a sweet taste, it is an important source of food for many mammals and birds. This tree gets its name from Lieutenant William Hemsley Emory, a United States Army surveyor, who discovered it in west Texas in 1846. Learn more about this fascinating species that is adapted to recurrent fires and is commonly found in oak-pine woodlands but can also be found in interior chaparral and mixed woodland communities.