About ten species of oaks grow in Perigord. Some of them look alike a lot, and to make things more complicated, they also interbreed easily. Often you can find intermediate trees.
Those here below are Pubescent Oaks (
Quercus pubescens), the most common species on dry limestone soils. It is a deciduous tree, but mostly the dry brown leaves stay on the branches during winter. The trees are not very big, and often stunted with convoluted branches.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlR6TfTvS8uJlrjZGuyjv074Ewi2RGKu7aGD6JwwMJGyN0L6drPx6mQEEo3GtEfQ5_JXUfr0Y7SwoJ43rSsi9cB8cERuaVaXEVe6Lns1qkKHZgMmfJ5YwKe2PoV1ZPJHuD8RcRf_kvJvy/s400/quercus+pubescens-129772z-jal-600-8.jpg)
It is well adapted to dry circumstances; the backsides of the leaves are slightly velvety.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkFgNpoBXjdcTQGn6DWSc1c02fTWg-YUHZPol5xaiiGUEkTqzzcpHoSTuyEY1AWwbmDlCPYS6dYYnQ9yo6BN-Pkffi8ZW6aLKO6o5IcbxWxwHfUNetPXlqh9Ee6kLLEx_2xAEUgBKcJlh/s400/quercus+pubescens-129781ja-600-8.jpg)
The small acorns grow in bunches and sit directly on the branches.