Sessile Oak
Irish Name - Dair ghaelach
Family - Fagaceae
Characteristics
- Sessile oak is a large deciduous tree that usually grows to 30m (90ft).
- In woodlands, the trunk of a mature oak will measure approximately 3m (10ft) in girth, although an isolated specimen may have a trunk measuring up to 12m (36ft).
- Acorns are not normally produced until the tree reaches 60 or 70 years of age. This tree matures in approximately 200 years.
- Often sessile oak grow in pure stands, although they are also found growing with pedunculate oak. Like that species, the natural distribution of the sessile oak has been masked by planting.
- These oak are often seen in a multi-stemmed form, indicating past coppicing or pollarding.
Season
- The catkins open in April and May.
- Acorns, when present, ripen in September and October.
- Leaves fall in October and November.
Preferred Environment
- It thrives on well-drained soil but will grow on thinner soil than pedunculate oak, with the sessile oak appearing at higher elevations.
- These oak tolerate exposure and strong winds but not if they are salt-laden.
Wildlife Associations
- Approximately 284 insect species are associated with oak.
- A large number of insects find temporary hiding places in the thick rough bark's deep furrows. The oak provides sustenance for them, but the tree's growth does not seem to suffer as a result.
- Sessile oak is considered beneficial to more species than most other native trees.
Uses
- The production of building timber is the primary commercial use of oak.