Oak, Holme
The Holm Oak, is a broadleaf evergreen tree, that can grow to a height of over 20m, and may live for 400 years.
The crown is broad, domed, with ascending branches and often with low stems. The bark is black and finely cracked, and the twigs are slender and covered with light brown felt-like hairs.
This tree was planted more than 100 years ago.
Photo supplied by: Alan Payne
Common Name:
Holme Oak
Scentific Name:
Quercus ilex
Tree No:
5
Location:
M5
Oval, dark green to black and concave with a coating of pale hairs on the underside.
Young leaves are spiny, like holly leaves, whereas older leaves have smooth edges.
The old leaves fall 1-2 years after new leaves emerge.
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The flowers are catkins produced in the spring.
Small, elongated yellow catkins with both male and female flowers hanging off the tree.
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The fruit is an acorn. Young acorns are green and mature in about 6 moth to a dark red-brown before falling. After pollination by wind, female flowers develop into acorns, which are smaller and have a more pointed tip than those of English or sessile oaks.
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Holm Oak is a native to the Eastern Mediterranean, but has been naturalised in the UK since being first introduced into England in the 16th Century. It lends itself well to shaping and is found in parks and gardens.
Trees are resistant to salt-spray from the sea, and are often planted as a windbreak in coastal areas. However, they can’t stand freezing conditions and during severe winters they are prone to dying or losing their leaves, so are more common in the south of the UK.
Holm oak is not as valuable to wildlife as native English and Sessile Oaks, but its catkins provide a source of pollen for bees and other insects, and its dense, evergreen canopy offers year-round shelter for birds.
Holm oak timber is incredibly hard and strong and has been used for general construction purposes, wagons, wine casks, tools and for the production of charcoal, since ancient times.
Its acorns are edible particularly by pigs, where they are an important source of food for free range pigs used for the production of Iberico Ham.
It is also one of the best trees for growing in a Truffle Orchard. Truffles grow in ectomycorrhizel association with the tree’s roots.
The Romans used the wood for making the wheels of carts and carriages, as well as for agricultural tools. Today it is sometimes used for firewood as it is slow and long lasting.
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