Quercus coccifera

Kermes Oak

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Common name

Kermes Oak.

Scientific name

Quercus coccifera L.

Conservation status and threats

PROTECTED species in Bulgaria.

Description and identification

Evergreen shrub or small tree. Annual branches brownish, densely addressed hairy or with sparse, small stelliform hairs. Buds ovate, obtuse. Bracts linear, obtuse, falling soon. Leaves thin but rigid, dentate, spinose-dentate, undulate, rarely entire; dark green with prominent veins above, pale green and smooth beneath, glabrous at maturity. Male flowers arranged in hanging catkins, the peduncles of the male catkins pubescent; the peduncles of the female inflorescence adpressed hairy or glabrous. Acorn light brown. Fl. V, fr. VIII–X in the second year. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative shoots^[1].

Distribution in Bulgaria

Balkan Range (Eastern – Sinite Kamani), Valley of Struma River (southwards from Kresna gorge), Valley of Mesta River (between Garmen and Debren villages), Pirin Mts (Southern – around Kalimantsi, Belyovo, Pirin, Petrovo villages), Rhodopi Mts (Eastern – single individuals around Avren, Kayaloba villages); 90 – 850 m alt^[2].

General distribution

Map of general distribution^[3]:

Quercus coccifera

References

[1] Dimitar Peev & Sonya Tsoneva. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[2] Dimitar Peev & Sonya Tsoneva. 2015. In: Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Volume 1 - Plants & Fungi.

[3] Quercus coccifera - Wikipedia.

Quercus coccifera на български

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