When I first came across this oak it was a complete mystery to what it was. At first I thought the leaves had been attacked by ravenous caterpillars, they were so oddly shaped. It took me quite some searching to try to get some identification on it.
Height 25m. This is a fast-growing semi-evergreen hybrid between the Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) and the Cork Oak (Quercus subur). The bark is deeply corky. The leaves are deeply and irregularly lobed, glossy green, often narrow and waist-like or thread-like. The different shapes of the leaves may be described as violin-shaped or spoon-shaped. They remain on the tree throughout the winter months until spring when they lose them and then quickly regrow them. See also Lucombe Oak Quercus x hispanica ‘Lucombeana’. It can grow up to 25m (82ft) tall.
Grown as ornament in parks and gardens. An old ‘Lucombeana’ species, and very rare.
Photographs taken November 2012, Warley Woods, Staffordshire. Camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38. © Pete Hillman 2012.
Slowly, slowly, I’m learning. I saw Quercus and knew immediately that it was an oak. It a distinctive leaf, too. Very nice.
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Thank you, Linda 🙂 I am always attracted to oaks, they are so diverse, and such beautiful trees.
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Strange and interesting; I don’t think I’ve ever seen a tree with different shapes leaves.
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Thank you, David 🙂 Yes, it is so unique and qwerky.
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