Quercus alnifolia
Golden oak (Quercus alnifolia )
The golden oak (Quercus alnifolia ) is an evergreen or deciduous tree species from the genus of oaks (Quercus ), which is native to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The species belongs to the endemic flora of the island and is found only on the eruptive rocks of the Troodos Mountains. In February 2006, the golden oak has been declared by a decision of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to the national tree of Cyprus.
Description
The golden oak is a highly branched shrub or small tree with broad crown that can reach heights of growth of up to 10 meters. The bark is gray with vertical cracks. The branches are densely greyish stellate hairs hairy - tomentose in the first year, and later verkahlen. The buds are tiny, dull ovate tomentose. The simple leaves are thick, stiff and leathery. The ovate to rounded leaf blades are 1.5 to 6 (maximum 10 ) cm long and 1 to 5 ( maximum 8) inches wide. The upper leaf surface is glossy dark green, the underside densely gold (English common name " Golden Oak " ) to brownish tomentose hairy, with prominent mid - and lateral veins, leaf margin serrate margin entire or more or less clearly. The strong stems are hairy 6 to 10 mm long and star- hairy- tomentose. The frail, membranous stipules are about 6 mm long.
The flowers are unisexual. The protruding up hanging male catkins are summarized in dense tangles at the ends of the branches. They are thin, 5-8 cm long, with stellate hairs - felted stem and inflorescence axis. The male flowers appear singly or in groups of two to three, the closer to each other or away from each other. The individual or in groups of two or three combined female flowers are sitting up short stalks in the leaf axils. The short graufilzige fruit cup is covered by dense linealischen, strongly recurved scales. The often narrowed toward the base, inked acorns are narrow verkehrteiförmig to nearly cylindrical and about 2 to 2.5 cm long and 0.8 to 1.2 cm wide.
Taxonomy
Quercus alnifolia was first described in 1842 by Joseph Poech. It belongs to the section Cerris as well as most Mediterranean evergreen oak species. Hybridization with the Kermes oak (Quercus coccifera subsp. Calliprinos ) occurs in nature occasionally.
Distribution and location
The golden oak grows exclusively on the ophiolitic geological formation of the Troodos Mountains at altitudes 400-1800 m. You brutiae settled either dry habitats in association with Pinus brutia in the association Querco alnifoliae - Pinetum or forms dense maquis formations of medium moist sites with deep soils alnifoliae in the association Crepido fraasii - Quercetum.
Ecological significance and protective measures
The golden oak colonized stony and rocky mountain slopes where it acts erosion resistant. In their area of distribution Quercus alnifolia is the most important forests forming deciduous tree species. The majority of the Cypriot forests consists of coniferous tree species such as Pinus brutia. In dense Quercus alnifolia - Macchien the moisture balance is clearly favored and deep soils occur with Mullhumus where shade -enduring herbs can grow.
The species is protected by the Forest Act of Cyprus. The habitat " shrub and low forest vegetation with Quercus alnifolia ( 9310 ) " is considered as a priority to be protected habitat type ( directive 92/43/EEC ), for its preservation Special Protection Areas must be shown. Vast forest areas are proposed for inclusion in the European ecological network Natura 2000, the European Union.
Photo Gallery
A higher shrub within a pine plantation at Karvounas, Troodos Mountains
A compact shrub when Kionia peak, Troodos Mountains
Upper leaf surface
Upper leaf surface and bottom
Lower leaf surface
Acorns