English oak - Quercus robur L.
Source: Wikipedia
Synonyms 48
- 1,721,014 GBIF occurrences
- 110,593 iNaturalist observations
Quercus robur is characteristic of at least three habitat types protected under Annex I of the EC Habitats Directive and therefore receives some form of protection. It is listed as Least Concern in Denmark (NERI 2007, Aarhus Universitet 2019), Estonia (eElurikkus 2023), Finland (Hyvärinen et al. 2019), Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996, Metzing et al. 2018), Luxembourg (Colling 2005), Norway (Solstad et al. 2021), Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002, Bornand et al. 2016) and the United Kingdom (Cheffings and Farrell 2005).The species is represented by 26 preserved germplasm specimens at European institutions (EURISCO 2023) and the species is included in the living collections of at least 261 botanical gardens (BGCI 2023).
European Oak is a large deciduous tree found in woods, high forests and coppice woodland, on a variety of soil types especially heavy fertile basic loams and clay. It is often a dominant species in upland oakwoods and deciduous woodland but is also planted and found in parks, gardens, urban areas and older trees are frequently pollarded. It is tolerant of waterlogging along fen margins. It produces acorns and may hybridise with Quercus petraea (Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora 2023, Blamey and Grey-Wilson 2003, Castroviejo et al. 1990, Eaton et al. 2016).This species forms part of several habitat types protected under the EC Habitats Directive, among others:
- 9190 Old acidophilous oak woods with Quercus robur on sandy plains
- 91F0 Riparian mixed forests of Quercus robur, Ulmus laevis and Ulmus minor, Fraxinus excelsior or Fraxinus angustifolia, along the great rivers (Ulmenion minoris)
- 9230 Galicio-Portuguese oak woods with Quercus robur and Quercus pyrenaica
It is widespread and common throughout its native range. Although there have been local declines, these are not expected to approach the thresholds necessary for listing under a threatened category.
European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)Although this species suffers from habitat decline and diseases, it has a widespread European distribution and is included in protected areas in parts of its range. It is therefore listed as Least Concern.
Despite being a common species it faces several threats throughout its range. Clearance of native woodland for conifer plantations or habitation is a major threat as well as grazing from animals such as deer, squirrels and rabbits which strip the bark and browse for seedlings (JNCC 2012). There is a high risk from forest fires (European Commission 2012). A fungal disease known as Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) is potentially affecting populations throughout Europe although this disease has shown to be more damaging to other species. There are other Phytophthora fungi affecting oak trees causing sticky fluid bleeding from the bark and trunk (Eaton et al. 2016). Drought exposure is thought to be the underlying cause of previous oak dieback which makes them more susceptible to attack by insects (Forestry Commission 1999).
