This oak, the ‘king of trees’ is a well-loved symbol of strength and duration. It is a magnificent tree, with a broad, irregular crown. The massive main branches often develop low on the trunk and become twisted and gnarled with age. The leaves have 5-7 pairs of lobes, forming a typical ‘wavy edged’ outline; the upper surface is dark green, the underside is paler, and young leaves are often covered in a layer of fine downy hairs. Acorns occur in clusters on long stalks known as peduncles (hence the common name of this species).
This photograph was taken in the 500-year-old oak grove of Castle Wildenstein.