About Quercus pyrenaica Willd.
Quercus pyrenaica Willd. is a tall deciduous tree that is often marcescent when immature. It can grow up to 25 metres (80 feet) tall, though it sometimes grows as a bush or small tree instead. Its average lifespan is 300 years. Its leaves have short petioles, are deeply and irregularly lobed, with four to eight pairs of lobes per leaf. Stellate hairs are present on both sides of each leaf. Roots of this species frequently produce suckers, and Quercus pyrenaica has high resprouting capabilities. This oak species is native to the Iberian Peninsula, parts of southwest France, and northern Morocco. It mainly inhabits subatlantic or continental environments, growing at elevations up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft). Ninety-five percent of the global population of Quercus pyrenaica is located in the Iberian Peninsula, where it occupies mainly the northern portion south of the Cantabrian Mountains. It is very common in the western Iberian Peninsula, in the northern half of mountainous Portugal, and rare on the eastern side of the peninsula. It is adapted to both sub-humid temperate and Mediterranean semi-arid conditions, ranging from the humid Peneda-Gerês National Park in Portugal to the semi-arid Spanish central plain. It is also adapted to survive high local temperatures, and is thought to have a short growth season to avoid summer drought. It is often the dominant tree species in the forests where it grows. Its acorns are dispersed by birds and small mammals.
