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English oak
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English oak A solitary Quercus robur oak tree with orange and yellow autumn leaves stands in an open field with a faint line of trees in the distant background.
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Spreading oak tree in summer. (green, leaves, deciduous, shade)
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Also called:
brown oak
Related Topics:
oak
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English oak
English oak Leaves and acorn of an English oak (Quercus robur).

English oak

tree
Also known as: Quercus robur, brown oak
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

English oak, (Quercus robur), ornamental and timber tree that is native to Eurasia but also cultivated in North America and Australia. Many varieties are grown as ornamentals, including a popular columnar form. The treeā€™s heavy heartwood was once extensively used in Great Britain for shipbuilding and carving.

Taxonomy

See also list of plants in the family Fagaceae

The English oak tree has a short stout trunk with wide-spreading branches and may grow to a height of 25 meters (82 feet). The short-stalked leaves, 13 cm (5 inches) long or longer, have three to seven pairs of rounded lobes; they are dark green above and pale green beneath and retain their color into winter. The fruit is an acorn, a type of true nut.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.