Quercus robur

Quercus robur, commonly known as the English oak, pedunculate oak, or French oak, is a species of flowering plant in the beech and oak family Fagaceae. It is native to most of Europe, and into Anatolia and Iran.

Description

Quercus robur is a large deciduous tree, with circumference of grand oaks from 4 m to exceptional 12 m. The Majesty Oak with a circumference of 12.2 m is the thickest tree in Great Britain, and the Kaive Oak in Latvia with a circumference of 10.2 m is the thickest tree in Northern Europe. Quercus robur has lobed and nearly sessile (very short-stalked) leaves 7–14 cm long. Flowering takes place in mid spring, and their fruit, called acorns, ripen by the following autumn.

Distribution and habitat

The tree is widely cultivated in temperate regions and has escaped into the wild in scattered parts of China and North America. Quercus robur is found in forests, pastures, and hedgerows and most often found in rich, mesic soils. An old English proverb attests to its strength, "Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."

Uses

Quercus robur is valued for its dense, durable timber used in furniture, flooring, and wine barrels. The wood is characterized by its distinct ring patterns and is highly resistant to disease and rot. Its acorns provide food for numerous species of birds and mammals, and the tree itself provides valuable habitat for many species of insects and fungi.

Conservation

While not currently considered threatened, Quercus robur populations are under pressure in many parts of its range due to habitat loss, climate change, and disease, particularly from the oak processionary moth and acute oak decline.

See also

• List of Quercus species
• Oak
• Fagaceae