Quercus ilex L.

South Europe (Mediterranean Region); 0-1400 m ;

15 m (may reach 25 m); trunk brittle, short, to 1-2 m in diameter; many-branched; crown at first columnar, becoming domed;

3-7 cm long x 1.5-4.5 wide; persist for 2 years before falling; varying in size and shape (more or less oval, or lanceolate, or rounded, entire or toothed); margin glabrous, clearly hyalin; adaxially dark green, shiny, weakly rough; dull, tawny, densely pubescent beneath, with stellate trichomes 12-14 rayed, and long simple glandular ones; 7-12 vein pairs; midrib straight; petiole 0.4-1.5 cm ;

early summer; male on catkins yellow, 4-7 cm long, with 4-7 stamens longer than petals; pistillate flowers with sometimes bracts at the base of the future cup;

acorn 1.5-2 cm; pointed; solitary or paired; sessile or with short tomentose peduncle; enclosed mostly 1/2 by cup, but this character is variable; cup scaly, 1.8 cm high, 1.2 cm wide, scales appressed, triangular, pale grey to tawny; maturing in 1 year; bitter;

usually hardy; all types of soils, including calcareous ones, if drained; sprouts easily and forms root suckers;

– A. Camus : n° 140; – Sub-genus Cerris, Section Ilex; – Lives up to 300 years and more; – The natural hybrids of Q. ilex are : Q. x albescens , Q. x autumnalis , Q. x auzandrii , Q. x morisii, Q. x turneri