California Live Oak trees are often identified as the dominant species in many oak woodlands. They are also known as coast live oak, canyon oak, Encina, California white oak, or Roble. These synonyms may vary based on geographic location or even cultural differences. For example, some people from Mexico may refer to this tree as "encino" or "roble" while people from California often use the term "oak" or "live oak". Furthermore, the name "coast live oak" is derived from the fact that it is commonly found along the California coastline. Whatever synonym one chooses to use for this tree, it remains an important part of the western U.S. ecosystem.