Golden oak
A golden oak tree
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Cerris
Section: Quercus sect. Ilex
Species:
Q. alnifolia
Binomial name
Quercus alnifolia
Poech
Synonyms[2]
  • Quercus alnifolia var. argentea Hadjik. & Hand
  • Quercus cypria Jaub. & Spach

Quercus alnifolia, commonly known as the golden oak, is an evergreen oak species of Cyprus. Its common English name refers to the golden coloured lower surface of its leaves. Quercus alnifolia belongs to the endemic flora of the island and it is confined to the igneous geological complex of the Troodos Mountains. In February 2006, the parliament of Cyprus selected the golden oak to be the country's national tree.[3]

Description

The golden oak is a much branched evergreen shrub or small tree up to 10 metres (33 feet) high. Due to its short stature (in relation to other oaks) it is sometimes referred to as the dwarf oak.[4]

Its leaves are simple, obovate to suborbicular, 1.5–8 centimetres (1⁄2–3 inches) long, 1–7 cm wide, glabrous and shining dark green above and densely golden or brownish tomentose below, with serrate margins and raised nervation. The petioles are strong, 6–11 millimetres (1⁄4–3⁄8 inch) long and pilose. The flowers are unisexual; the male catkins are greenish-yellow forming spreading or pendulous clusters at the tips of the branches; the female flowers are axillary, solitary or in groups of 2–3. The acorns are narrowly obovate or subcylindrical, usually tapering towards the base, 2–2.5 cm long and 0.8–1.2 cm wide, with a woody endocarp and cupule with strongly recurved scales.[5]

Taxonomy

A golden oak shrub in a pine stand near Karvounas, Troodos Mountains

Quercus alnifolia belongs to subgenus Cerris, section Ilex, as with much of the mediterranean evergreen oak species.[6] Occasional hybridization with kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) has been described.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Quercus alnifolia is restricted to Troodos Massif, where it grows on igneous geological substrate at altitudes of 400 to 1,800 m (1,300 to 5,900 ft).[8] It occupies dry habitats in association with Pinus brutia or forms dense maquis in mesic habitats, characterized by deep forest soils.[9]

Ecology

Golden oak offers soil stabilisation against erosion due to its ability to colonize stony and rocky slopes. In its distribution area, Q. alnifolia is the most important broadleaved species forming pure or mixed stands, within the conifer (Pinus brutia, Pinus nigra) dominated forests of Cyprus. Thick stands of Q. alnifolia in mesic habitats, considerably modify the humidity conditions of the site and form forest soils with "mull" humus favouring the existence of sciophilous herbal species.

Like other members of the oak genus, Q. alnifolia forms mutually beneficial, ectomycorrhizal associations with various fungi. A preliminary study in 2011, reported over 80 mycorrhizal fungi to be associated with the golden oak; the total number, however, is estimated to be much higher.[10]

Conservation

Golden oak is protected by the forest law of Cyprus, while the habitat type "Scrub and low forest vegetation of Quercus alnifolia (9390)" is a priority habitat of Europe (directive 92/43/EEC).[11] Large forest expanses of the species have been proposed for inclusion in the Natura 2000 ecological network of the European Union.

References

  1. ↑ Gorener, V. & Beech, E (2017). "Quercus alnifolia". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 208. e.T194053A2295358. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T194053A2295358.en.
  2. ↑ "Quercus alnifolia Poech". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
  3. ↑ Leonidou, Leo (February 3, 2006). "A flower for Cyprus". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  4. ↑ Ashmore, Wendy; Arthur Bernard Knapp (1999). Archaeologies of Landscape: Contemporary Perspectives. Blackwell. p. 237. ISBN 0-631-21106-3.
  5. ↑ Meikle, R.D. (1985). Flora of Cyprus. London: Bentham Moxon Trust. pp. 1481–1482. ISBN 0-9504876-3-5.
  6. ↑ Denk, Thomas; Grimm, Guido W.; Manos, Paul S.; Deng, Min & Hipp, Andrew L. (2017). "Appendix 2.1: An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks" (xls). figshare. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  7. ↑ Neophytou, Ch.; Palli G.; Aravanopoulos F.A. (2007). "Morphological differentiation and hybridization between Quercus alnifolia Poech and Quercus coccifera L. (Fagaceae) in Cyprus" (PDF). Silvae Genetica. 56 (6): 271–277. doi:10.1515/sg-2007-0038. S2CID 91154432. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  8. ↑ Merlo, Maurizio (2005). Valuing Mediterranean Forests: Towards Total Economic Value. CABI Publishing. p. 217. ISBN 0-85199-480-6.
  9. ↑ Barbéro, M.; Quézel P. (1979). "Contribution à l' étude des groupements forestiers de Chypre". Documents Phytosociologiques (IV): 9–34.
  10. ↑ Loizides, M. (2011). Quercus alnifolia: The indigenous golden oak of Cyprus and its fungi. Field Mycology 12 (3): 81–88. doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2011.06.004.
  11. ↑ "Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora". EUR-Lex. European Union law. 1992-07-22. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
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