Quercus pyrenaica
{{Short description|Species of oak tree}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Pyrenean oak
| image = Quercus pyrenaica 20190708a.jpg
| genus = Quercus
| display_parents = 2
| parent = Quercus sect. Quercus
| species = pyrenaica
| authority = Willd.
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| range_map = Quercus pyrenaica range.svg
| range_map_caption = Distribution map
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true
|Quercus aurin Bosc
|Quercus brossa Bosc
|Quercus camata Petz. & G.Kirchn.
|Quercus castellana Bosc ex Pers.
|Quercus cenomanensis Desf. ex Endl.
|Quercus cerris DC.
|Quercus humilis A.DC.
|Quercus lanuginosa subsp. palensis (Palassou) A.Camus
|Quercus palensis Palassou
|Quercus pubescens subsp. palensis (Palassou) O.Schwarz
|Quercus stolonifera Lapeyr.
|Quercus tauza Desf.
|Quercus tauzin Pers.
|Quercus tauzinii Bubani
|Quercus toza Bastard }}
| synonyms_ref = {{ThePlantList |id=kew-174637 |taxon=Quercus pyrenaica |authority=Willd.}}
}}
Quercus pyrenaica, also known as Pyrenean oak,{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }} or Spanish oak{{cite web |title=Ageing in Spanish Oak |date=24 February 2020 |url=https://bodegaslan.com/en/ageing-in-spanish-oak/ |publisher=Bodegas LAN |access-date=21 June 2023}} is a tree native to southwestern Europe and northwestern North Africa. Despite its common name, it is rarely found in the Pyrenees Mountains and is more abundant in northern Portugal and north and northwestern Spain.
It is placed in section Quercus.{{Citation |last1=Denk |first1=Thomas |last2=Grimm |first2=Guido W. |last3=Manos |first3=Paul S. |last4=Deng |first4=Min |last5=Hipp |first5=Andrew L. |date=2017-11-02 |title=Appendix 2.1: An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks |website=figshare |doi=10.6084/m9.figshare.5547622.v1 |url=https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Appendix_2_1_________An_updated_infrageneric_classification_of_the_oaks/5547622/1 |access-date=2023-02-17 |format=xls |name-list-style=amp |mode=cs1}}
The oak is cultivated as an ornamental tree for gardens and parks.
Description
Quercus pyrenaica is a tall deciduous tree, often marcescent in immature individuals,{{cite web |title=Quercus pyrenaica Willd. |url=https://flora-on.pt/#/1quercus+pyrenaica |publisher=Flora-on |access-date=22 January 2021}} up to {{convert|25|m|ft|round=5|abbr=off}} tall, though it is sometimes found as a bush or small tree. It has an average lifespan of 300 years.{{Cite iucn |title=Quercus pyrenaica in Europe |author=Harvey-Brown, Y. |name-list-style=amp |page=e.T78972170A80570544 |date=2017 |access-date=22 January 2021}} The leaves have short petioles and are deeply and irregularly lobed, with four to eight pairs of lobes per leaf. There are stellate hairs on both sides of the leaf.{{cite web |title=Quercus pyrenaica |url=http://www.floraiberica.es/floraiberica/texto/pdfs/02_041_03_Quercus.pdf |publisher=Flora Iberica |access-date=22 January 2021}} Roots frequently produce suckers. The species has high resprouting capabilities.
Quercus pyrenaica brote 2010-4-02 DehesaBoyaldePuertollano.jpg|Seedling
Quercus pyrenaica 20150812a.jpg|Leaves and acorns
Quercus pyrenaica 20190613a.jpg|Habitat
Quercus pyrenaica 20181115a.jpg|Quercus pyrenaica in winter
CheneB13.jpg|Bark texture
Distribution and habitat
Quercus pyrenaica is native to the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southwest France and northern Morocco inhabiting mainly subatlantic or continental environments up to {{convert|2100|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} in elevation. In the Iberian Peninsula, which represents 95% of its population, it occupies mainly the northern portion, south of the Cantabrian Mountains, very common in the west of the Peninsula in the northern half of mountainous Portugal, and rare on the east It is adapted both to sub-humid temperate and Mediterranean semi-arid conditions, from the humid Peneda-Gerês National Park in Portugal, to the semi-arid Spanish central plain. It is also adapted to survive in hot local temperatures. It is thought to have a short growth season to avoid the summer drought. It is often the dominant species in the forests in which it occurs. Its acorns are dispersed by birds and small mammals.
Threats
File:Quercus pyrenaica patológico 20090813 2.jpg
The species is currently threatened by wild fire which encourage the growth of other oak species that Q. pyrenaica is unable to compete with, and insect pathogens such as green oak leaf roller moth (Tortrix viridana), the gipsy moth (Lymantria dispar) and brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea); these threats may become of greater concern due to the impact of climate change.
Historically the species experienced decline due to charcoal and timber industry, and forestry activities still pose some threat to Q. pyrenaica but on a much reduced scale.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Quercus pyrenaica}}
- {{Commons category-inline|Quercus pyrenaica|Quercus pyrenaica}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q899686}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Flora of North Africa
Category:Trees of Mediterranean climate
Category:Garden plants of Europe