Quercus variabilis Blume

Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Tibet; to 3400 m; introduced in Europe in 1861;

reaches 25 m in the wild (smaller in cultivation); open, spreading crown;

8-15 x 2-5 cm; oboval; apex pointed; base rounded or remotely cuneate; margin with 15-18 pairs of teeth ending in cusp; dark, shiny, rich green above, with dense stellate greyish tomentum; minutely silvery stellate pubescent beneath; 9-16 vein pairs; petiole 2.5-3 cm long, pale green;

April-May

acorn 1-2 cm long, subglobose; stalkless; almost all enclosed by cup; cup with long, reflected scales; maturing in 2 years;

hardy; prefers dry soils; rather slow-growing;

– A. Camus : n° 121; – Sub-genus Cerris, section Cerris, sub-section Campylolepides (with acutissima and chenii );