Quercus petraea
| Quercus petraea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sessile Oak | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Quercus |
| Section: | Quercus |
| Species: | Q. petraea |
| Binomial name | |
| Quercus petraea (Mattuschka) Liebl. | |
Quercus petraea (syn. Quercus sessiliflora),[1] the sessile oak, also known as the Cornish oak or Durmast oak, is a species of oak tree native to most of Europe, into Anatolia and Iran.
Sessile oak has been designated the national tree of Wales, where it is also called Welsh oak.[2] It is also considered the Cornish national tree and is referred to as the Cornish oak.[3][4]
Description
The sessile oak is a large deciduous tree up to 20–40 m (66–131 ft) tall, in the white oak section of the genus (Quercus sect. Quercus) and similar to the Pedunculate oak, Q. robur, with which it overlaps extensively in range. The leaves are 7–14 cm (2.8–5.5 in) long and 4–8 cm broad, evenly lobed with five to six lobes on each side, and a 1 cm petiole. The flowers are catkins, produced in the spring. The fruit is an acorn 2–3 cm long and 1–2 cm broad, which matures in about six months.
Comparison with pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)
Significant botanical differences from pedunculate oak include the stalked leaves, and the stalkless (sessile) acorns from which one of its common names is derived. It occurs in upland areas over 300 m (984 ft) with higher rainfall and shallow, acidic, sandy soils. Its specific epithet petraea means "of rocky places".[5] Quercus robur, on the other hand, prefers deeper, richer soils at lower altitude. Fertile hybrids with Quercus robur named Quercus × rosacea are found wherever the two parent species occur and share or are intermediate in characters between the parents.
Uses
In cultivation, this tree has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[6] The wood is important, used for construction purposes (particularly timber framing), shipbuilding, and oak barrels for wine.
Pontfadog Oak
What was considered to be the oldest tree in the UK[citation needed] was a sessile oak, the Pontfadog Oak. This grew near Chirk in North Wales. It was understood to be over 1,200 years old, an age that was due to regular pollarding[citation needed] for much of its life. The hollow trunk had a girth of 42 feet 5 inches (12.9 m). It was lost in April 2013 when it blew down in high winds.[7]
Diseases and Pests
- Acute oak decline
- Sudden oak death
- The Welsh Oak Longhorn Beetle (syn. Pyrrhidium sanguineum) is named for its host tree; the larvae feeding at the bark interface of dead wood.[8]
Notes
- ↑ "Quercus sessiliflora Salisb.". USDA GRIN Taxonomy for Plants.
- ↑ "Tree trail with worldwide flavour", BBC News, 23 July 2004
- ↑ James Minahan, The complete guide to national symbols and emblems , Volume 1, 2009
- ↑ http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/native-trees-thrive-future/story-13244009-detail/story.html
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
- ↑ http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=6127
- ↑ "Pontfadog Oak: 1,200-year-old tree toppled by winds". BBC News Online. 18 April 2013.
- ↑ Bullock, J.A. 1992. Host Plants of British Beetles: A List of Recorded Associations - Amateur Entomologists' Society (AES) publication volume 11a: A supplement to A Coleopterist's Handbook.
References
- Flora Europaea: Quercus petraea
- Bean, W. J. (1976). Trees and shrubs hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., revised. John Murray.
- Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- (French)Chênes: Quercus petraea
- Den virtuella floran - Distribution
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus petraea. |