About Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.
Quercus petraea, commonly called sessile oak, is a large deciduous tree that belongs to the white oak section (Quercus sect. Quercus) of the oak genus. It can grow up to 40 metres (130 feet) tall. It is similar in appearance to pedunculate oak (Q. robur), and the two species have extensively overlapping natural ranges. Its leaves measure 7–14 centimetres (2+3⁄4–5+1⁄2 inches) in length and 4–8 cm (1+1⁄2–3 in) in width, with evenly spaced lobes—five to six lobes per leaf side—and a 1 centimetre (1⁄2 inch) long petiole. Male sessile oak flowers are grouped into catkins, and are produced in the spring. The tree's fruit is an acorn that is 2–3 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄4 in) long and 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) broad, and it matures in approximately six months. Sessile oak is one of the most economically and ecologically important tree species in Europe. Traditionally, oak timber from this species has been used for construction, shipbuilding, and furniture manufacturing. Today, the highest quality wood from sessile oak is used for high-quality cabinetmaking, veneers, and barrel staves. Coarser, lower-grade wood is used for fence construction, roof beams, and specialized building projects. The wood of sessile oak also has antimicrobial properties, and it makes a good fuel wood. In autumns that produce large acorn crops (called mast years), it is traditional to graze animals under sessile oak stands to help the animals fatten before slaughter or winter.
