Family name:
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Beech family |
Scientific name:
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Quercus robur L. |
Family name latin:
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Fagaceae |
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| Description: |
Reaching a height of up to 50 m, this tree can reach over 1000 years of age; it has a grey-brown, deeply furrowed outer bark, short-stemmed, emarginately lobed, assymetric leaves that are heartshaped and auriculate at the base; male flowers in catkins; female inflorescence inconspicuous, 1 to 2 flowers; anemogamous; flowering season : IV - V (central bloomer); the long-stemmed (name) fruits, the so-called acorns (used to be sought after for fattening pigs) are nuts surrounded by a shallow cup. The very hard wood is not to be surpassed by any other indiginous wood for its firmness and elasticity. Furthermore, it is extremely durable and, like the bark, very rich in tanning agent (used to be much in demand by tanners). For these reasons, numerous natural oak groves fell victim to exploitive forestry, especially between 1500 and 1750; this especially in coastal areas, since the load-bearing wood is ideal for shipbuilding. Today it is mostly employed for furniture, parquet floors and construction wood for earthworks, buildings, waterworks and bridge building.
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| Occurence: |
Widespread and frequent, partially forming stands in mixed hardwood forests in river valleys in low to middle altitudes; up to 1000 m; oak groves;
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| Related species: |
Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., durmast oak; occurence like Q. robur (IV - V); Quercus rubra L., American red oak; a forest and ornamental tree (V) originating in North America; several hundred more species world-wide;
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| Allergy trigger: |
Pollen; approx. 20 x 40 µm;
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| Invasions path: |
Inhalative (March - July);
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| Synonyms: |
Quercus pedunculata Ehrh.;
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| Allergology: |
Allergologically the oak is only credited a certain clinical relevance because of its cross-allergenicity to the birch.
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| Clinical relevance: |
light
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| Cross reactivities: |
Occurrence frequently- Birch, Weeping
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