Quercus velutina Lam.

Eastern USA; to 1500 m; introduced in Europe in 1800;

20-30 m tall; trunk to 1 m in diameter and more; crown open, narrow; spreading branches;

10-23 x 7.5-15 cm; leathery; apex pointed; base cuneate; margin with 5-9 broad bristle-tipped lobes (the terminal two are often unequal, or there are 2 terminal lobes), with deep sinuses U-shaped; both sides shiny; dark green above; paler beneath with yellowish brown pubescence, sometimes only with tufts of hairs at vein axils; stout yellow petiole 4-6 cm long;

spring

acorn 1.5-2 cm long; ellipsoid; enclosed 1/2 by thick, bowl-shaped cup with loose, rusty brown scales; maturing in 2 years;

hardy; prefers sandy, lime-free soils, even dry ones; fast-growing;

– “velutina” refers to the velutinous surface of young leaves; – A.Camus : n° 424; – Sub-genus Quercus, section Lobatae, Series Coccineae; – The name “valentina” has been used to name different species : Q.valentina Cav. 1793 = Q.fruticosa Q.valentina K.Koch 1849 = Q.infectoria Q.valentina Lam. ex Steudel 1821 = Q.velutina