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Quercus robur
Species: |
Fagaceae |
Type: |
Deciduous |
Height: |
50 - 60' (15 - 18 m) |
Fruit: |
Acorn |
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English Oak in Summer |
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Probably the best known tree in Britain and an important
feature of the English landscape.
They live for hundreds of years and have always been important
for their timber. The wood has been used to build ships,
houses and furniture, but is also renowned for its use in
casks for maturing wines and spirits.
The fruit of the oak tree is the acorn which appears usually
in September and is very popular with
squirrels.
The oak is deciduous but loses its leaves very late in the
year.
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English Oak |
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Sometimes, strange
structures appear on the acorns and leaves of an oak tree.
The Oak Apple Gall above is caused by the wasp, Biorhiza
pallida. These oak apples were about 5 cm diameter and
appeared as the leaves were appearing in May.
There are various types of gall and the picture on the
left shows a Knopper Gall, where the acorn has become
yellow, distorted and sticky. These are caused by the gall
wasp, Andricus
quercuscalicis which lays its eggs inside the acorn and
causes it to mutate.
These wasps do not usually cause damage to the tree and
are nothing to worry about. |
Knopper Galls |
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