Quercus baloot Griff.

Afghanistan ; Himalaya ; North Pakistan ; Kashmir ; from 1000 to 3000 m ;

small tree to 15 m maximum, with dense crown and low branched trunk;

2.5-4.5 x 2-4 cm; oval-subelliptic to subelliptic; leathery, stiff; base rounded, sometimes heart-shaped; apex rounded or abruptly pointed; margin entire or with sometimes 3-7 long sharp teeth; young leaves densely whitish hairy both sides; mature leaves grey green, glabrous above; glaucous beneath with thin, dense, stellate pubescence; 5-8 pairs of lateral veins, more evident on toothed leaves than on entire ones, at an angle of 45-50° with midrib; petiole 2-5 mm, thick, hairy at first, then glabrescent or glabrous;

male flowers 4-5 cm, with 7-9 stamens; female on erect, tomentose spikes 5 cm long;

acorn elliptic, glabrous, 1.5-2.8 cm; solitary or to 3 on a 4-5 cm long axis; enclosed 1/4 to 1/2 by the cup; cup conical, with appressed scales and peduncle to 3.5 cm; maturing second year;

hardy zone 6; all types of soils; withstands dry climate;

– A. Camus : tome 1, p. 403, n° 96 ; – Sub-genus Cerris, Section Ilex; – Closely related to Q. ilex; – Hybridizes with Q. floribunda , the latter species showing tomentose and smaller leaves; – For some Authors, it is the Asian form of Q. ilex.