Oak
Latin name:
Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, Q. rubra, Q. cerris, Q. palustris, Q. suber, Q. pseudosuber, Q. ilex, Q. coccinea ... (There are about 2000 species all over the world, focussing in the northern hemisphere.)
Description:
Oaks are mighty trees, although some Mediterranean species decrease to tiny shrubs. In general they are ornated with the typical and well known shaped oak leaves. Variations are wide from species to species, and end up in small elongated elliptical leaves with acute ends as for instance in the Mediterranean evergreen oak (
Q. ilex). The bark is longitudinally fissured, rough and dark. Male catkins appear together with the leaves.
Start of the season:
The season starts mainly in April and May (sometimes already in March), depending on the species and the geographical latitude.
Allergenicity:
The oak shows moderate allergenicity.
Crossreactions are known with birch, alder, hazel, beech, sweet chestnut, hornbeam and hopbeam.
