Quercus cerris L.

Large deciduous tree (to c. 25 m tall in cultivation), with strongly fissured grey bark. Shoots ± tomentose when young. Buds hairy, surrounded by hairy, long-filiform, persistent stipules. Petiole to c. 2 cm long, hairy. Lamina on adult shoots 6–14 × 2–8 cm, oblong- lanceolate to oblong-obovate, with 5–8 pairs of lobes or teeth, sometimes lyrate-pinnatifid, whitish or grey-tomentose beneath (hairs simple or stellate), glabrescent and ± shining above with scattered stellate hairs, somewhat viscid when very young, membranous, cuneate at base; lobes varying from deep to shallow, sometimes extending almost to midrib, with teeth obtuse, acute or mucronate. ♂ catkins slender, to 8 cm long, densely hairy; stamens usually 4; perianth > filaments. Fr. in clusters of 1–4 fertile ones, reaching maturity in second year, subsessile or with pedicel very short; peduncle 0. Cup 2–2.5 cm diam.; scales subulate, spreading or recurved, hairy. Acorn 2–2.3 cm long, oblong-ovoid, < 1/2 enclosed by cup.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–Nov.