Quercus pubescens Willd. – Family: Fagaceae

General Characteristics

A deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 meters tall, with a hemispherical crown and pubescent branches when young. 

The leaves are oblong, petiolate, up to 7 cm long, with 10-14 deep lobes and pointed tips, covered with star-shaped hairs on the lower surface. 

The flowers are arranged in unisexual inflorescences: the male flowers are in pendulous catkins up to 6 cm long, while the female flowers are solitary. 

The fruits are sessile acorns with oblong nuts, almost half-enclosed by cupules with lanceolate, tomentose scales.

USES

The wood was used for building beams or as fuel.

CURIOSITIES

It occupies the sunnier slopes of hillside forests. The acorn was used to feed pigs.

ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION

A native species of the Himalayas, found at elevations between 1300-3300 meters. 

It was introduced to Europe in 1822.