November 5, 2012

Pubescent Oak


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.



It is well adapted to dry circumstances; the backsides of the leaves are slightly velvety.

















The small acorns grow in bunches and sit directly on the branches.