Turkey oak (Quercus cerris, Sp. Pl.: 997 (1753))

Family: Fagaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 997 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Quercus

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: SC. & S. Europe to Türkiye, Anti-Lebanon

Description

Turkey Oak: Quercus cerris

The Turkey oak, scientifically known as Quercus cerris, is a significant member of the Fagaceae family. This majestic tree is native to regions spanning from Southern and Central Europe to Türkiye and the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, where it thrives in the diverse climates of these areas.

Description

The Turkey oak is a robust deciduous tree, capable of reaching heights up to 30 meters. It presents a broad, spreading crown, which contributes significantly to its stately appearance. The trunk is sturdy with a deeply furrowed bark, adding to the tree’s rugged charm. The leaves of the Quercus cerris are distinctive, featuring a glossy, dark green surface with a silvery and furry underside. These leaves are lobed, with each lobe ending in bristle-tipped points, making them easily identifiable and adding to their aesthetic appeal in the spring and summer months.

In autumn, the leaves turn a splendid yellow before falling, further enhancing the tree’s seasonal beauty. Acorns produced by the Turkey oak are another notable feature. They are elongated and sit in cups covered with elongated, moss-like scales and are a vital source of food for various wildlife species.

Habitat and Distribution

Quercus cerris is well-adapted to a variety of soil types, though it prefers deep, well-drained soils. It thrives in both full sun and partial shade, allowing it to grow prolifically across its range. Its adaptability has made it a common sight in woodlands and forests from Southern and Central Europe extending to Türkiye and the Anti-Lebanon area.

Ecological Importance and Uses

The Turkey oak plays an essential role in its ecosystem. It provides habitat and food for numerous insects, birds, and mammals. Its acorns are particularly crucial for species such as jays, squirrels, and deer. Furthermore, this tree is valued for its timber, which is hard and relatively durable, making it useful in construction, furniture making, and the production of firewood.

Aesthetically, the Turkey oak is often planted in parks and large gardens for its grandeur and ornamental qualities. It also acts as a protective tree in reforestation projects due to its hardiness and rapid growth rate.

Cultural Significance

Throughout history, Quercus cerris has held cultural importance, symbolizing strength and endurance in various European cultures. Its durable wood has been utilized for centuries, indicating the tree’s longstanding involvement in human activities and its value beyond mere ecological presence.

In conclusion, the Turkey oak, Quercus cerris, is more than just a tree. It stands as a pillar of natural beauty, ecological stability, and cultural heritage across its extensive native range. Its robustness and adaptability underline not only its enduring nature but also its value to both the natural world and human enterprises.

Common Names

Pol: dąb burgundzki
Eng: european turkey oak, turkey oak, hairy oak
Dan: frynse-eg, tyrkisk eg
Deu: zerr-eiche
Swe: turkisk ek
Nld: moseik
Nno: frynseeik
Nob: frynseeik
Fra: cerre
Cym: derw twrci, derwen twrci, derwn twrci
Tur: sacli mese, turk mesesi
En: Turkey oak, European turkey oak, Hairy Oak
Af: Turkse eik
Sq: Qarri (dru)
Ar: سنديان أشعر
Az: Avstriya palıdı
Eu: Turkiar haritz
Bs: Hrast cer
Bg: Цер
Zh: 土耳其櫟
Hr: Hrast cer
Cs: Dub cer
Da: Frynse-Eg, Tyrkisk eg
Nl: Moseik, Turkse Eik
Fi: Turkintammi
Fr: Chêne chevelu, Cerre, Chêne lombard, Chêne de Bourgogne, Chêne de Turquie, Doucier
Ka: Თურქული მუხა
De: Zerreiche, Zerr-Eiche, Burgunder Eiche, Burgundische Eiche, Cerr-Eiche, Österreichische Eiche, Türkische Eiche
He: אלון שסוע
Hu: Csertölgy
Is: Kögureik
It: Quercia cerro, Cerro, Quercia capelluta
Lv: Austrijas ozols
Mk: Цер
No: Frynseeik
Nb: Frynseeik
Nn: Frynseeik
Fa: بلوط ترک
Pl: Dąb burgundzki
Sr: Цер
Sk: Dub cerový
Es: Cer, Roble de Turquía
Sv: Turkisk ek
Zh-tw: 土耳其櫟
Tr: Saçlı meşe, Sacli Mese, Turk Mesesi
Cy: Derwen Twrci, Derw Twrci, Derwn Twrci

Synonyms

• Quercus cerris var. tournefortii ((Willd.) K.Koch)
• Quercus pseudocerris (Boiss.)
• Quercus cerris var. caramanica (Kotschy ex Tchich.)
• Quercus cerris var. ambrozyana ((Simonk.) Rehder)
• Quercus frondosa (Steud.)
• Quercus cerris f. basi-cuneata (Mátyás)
• Quercus cerris var. sinuata (Schur)
• Cerris austriaca ((Willd.) Raf.)
• Quercus cerris f. pendula ((Neill) A.Camus)
• Quercus cerris f. laciniatolyrata (Mátyás)
• Quercus variegata (Lodd. ex Steud.)
• Quercus cerris var. macrophylla (Dorner)
• Quercus cerris f. balatae (Boros ex Mátyás)
• Quercus tournefortii (Willd.)
• Quercus tukhtensis (Czeczott)
• Quercus cerris var. pendula (Neill)
• Quercus cerris var. longimucronata (Hausskn.)
• Quercus cerris f. verae-csapodyae (Mátyás)
• Quercus cerris var. aegilops (DC.)
• Quercus cerris f. laciniata (C.K.Schneid.)
• Quercus cerris var. austriaca ((Willd.) Loudon)
• Quercus cerris f. lancifolia (Georgescu & Morariu)
• Quercus cerris f. austriaca ((Willd.) Georgescu & Morariu)
• Quercus ambrozyana (Simonk.)
• Quercus cerris f. sinuatolobata (Mátyás)
• Quercus cerris var. haliphlaeos ((Lam.) Lam.)
• Quercus cerris subsp. tournefortii ((Willd.) O.Schwarz)
• Quercus cerris var. crinita (DC.)
• Quercus cerris var. bithynica (A.Camus)
• Quercus cerris f. roborilobata (Mátyás)
• Quercus cerris var. bipinnatifida (Schur)
• Quercus cerris f. leviterlobata (Mátyás)
• Quercus raynal (K.Koch)
• Quercus cerris f. cycloloba (Borbás)
• Quercus austriaca (Willd.)
• Quercus recurvisquamosa (St.-Lag.)
• Quercus cerris var. pseudocerris ((Boiss.) Boiss.)
• Cerris crinita ((Lam.) Raf.)
• Cerris australis (Raf.)
• Quercus crinita (Lam.)
• Quercus cerris var. lanuginosa (de Vos)
• Quercus aegilops var. alba (de Vos)
• Quercus cerris f. macrophylla ((Dorner) Georgescu & Morariu)
• Quercus thracica (Stef. & Nedjalkov)
• Quercus asplenifolia (A.DC.)
• Quercus ragnal (Lodd. ex Loudon)
• Quercus cerris subsp. austriaca ((Willd.) Nyman)
• Quercus haliphlaeos (Lam.)
• Cerris paliphleos (Raf.)
• Quercus nicotrae (Lojac.)
• Quercus cana (Steud.)
• Quercus secondatii (Steud.)
• Quercus cerris var. laciniata (G.Kirchn.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Nov 5, 2019 by Abdulrahman Nuaimat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 16, 2018 by juanbautistafernandez (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 8, 2021 by Valérie GORGÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2019 by Matteo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 21, 2021 by Lugifa Lugifa (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Leaf

Taken Nov 22, 2020 by Cécile lecomte (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 22, 2020 by Cécile lecomte (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2021 by Chris S. (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2021 by Meinrad Schweikart (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 9, 2021 by Jan Löser (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2019 by Pierre Sosson (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 9, 2021 by Jan Löser (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 24, 2021 by Bigongiari Adriano (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Mátyás Hegedüs (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 6, 2021 by Dabronzo Carlo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 1, 2021 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 28, 2020 by Alima Raslan (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2021 by Romain SUAU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 8, 2019 by hold3n (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 25, 2019 by Michael Michael Skelly (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2021 by Chris S. (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 24, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Annick LARBOUILLAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 24, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Annick LARBOUILLAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Annick LARBOUILLAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 23, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Annick LARBOUILLAT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 21, 2020 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2880580)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:295941-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Quercus cerris L.)

Specifications

Growth