Native Trees of the Village of Euxton

The Sessile Oak

Sessile Oak - Quercus petraea.   It is also known as Durmast Oak, Welsh Derw, Gaelic Darachor, Irish Dair,  and is of the family - Fagaceae.

Related species the Pedunculate Oak and Quercus robur (common Oak) is the other native oak.   There are numerous exotic oaks that are to be found in parks and gardens, but generally these exotics produce a much inferior timber.

It is a large deciduous tree, which grows slowly as a seedling, but of much faster growth later, with a maximum height of about 30-40m. The Sessile Oak has an age of up to 1000 years or more.

The habitat of the Sessile Oak is mainly in acid upland soils, often in its own pure stands.   It generally prefers lighter well drained soils and not tolerant of flooding.

The natural native distribution of the Sessile Oak is especially west and northern Britain.   It is found in most of Western Europe and Asia Minor.

The Sessile Oak is propagated by its seeds, that are not dormant. Its acorns were formerly used to feed pigs.

The timber of the Sessile Oak is a pale brown hard wood.   Unlike the Quercus robur (common Oak) it is less susceptible to epicormic growth, this reducing the incidence of knots in the timber.

The uses of the timber of the Sessile Oak, depending on size and quality is used veneer, building timber, hardwood pulp, poles, fencing, firewood and charcoal.   Tannin was once produced from bark for the tanning of leather.


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