Dioecious (having male and female flowers on separate plants), spreading shrub up to 60cm with a fire-resistant rootstock. Leaves lobed, up to 20mm long, usually divided, with gold-spangled glands; small yellowish flowers in axillary spikes.

Fruits warty, 3-4mm in diametre.

Wind pollinated.

Greek: morello = kind of cherry with a bitter taste: referring to the bitter taste of the fruits.

Latin: quercus = oak, folium = leaf: referring to the oak-shaped leaf of this species.