IDENTITY RECORD

Common Oak

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Quercus robur

DescrIption

A venerable species of tree found in our forests, I can reach between 25 and 35 meters at maturity. My lobed leaves are almost sessile, which means they only have a very short stalk or “petiole”. However, my acorns have long peduncles.

You can spot the oldest members of my species by their crevassed bark and the size of their trunk that can be impressively large.

Where and when can you find me in the reserve?

• Preferring rich soil with a good water supply and able to tolerate temporary flooding, I am one of the keystone species of a “hardwood” forest.
• I flower from May to June. My leaves are not especially interesting but you will no doubt recognize my fruit, the acorn which is a popular source of food for many animals living in the forest;
• You can often find me around the reserve covered in common ivy. But fear not, the climbing plant only uses myself and my leafy friends as a support in its endeavor to reach the light—it’s not a parasite. Together, we provide a safe environment for the many creatures who live and feed among our branches.

What other species might you mistake me for?

• You might confuse me with my cousin, the sessile oak that prefers drier soil;
• To tell us apart, the easiest way is to look at our acorns: my peduncles usually grow a single acorn. The acorns of the sessile oak grow in small groups without a peduncle.

Conservation status

• Red list of vascular plants in metropolitan France: Least Concern (LC);
• Red list of endangered vascular plants in Alsace: Least Concern (LC).

Remember that picking flowers and plants is prohibited in the nature reserves.