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Quercus ilex (Fagaceae)

This monumental holm oak never fails to impress the visitors with its large branches, curved in an almost unnatural shape – some of which very heavy and thus supported by wooden struts.

This unnatural shape was caused by some hunters who used the branches of the tree to hang bird-catching devices.

This specimen is in good health with a trunk circumference of 11.4 ft, a height of 65.6 ft and about 300 years old.

How to get there:

From Bucine (AR) reach the town of Bellavista, then take via San Donato. Past the Carabinieri barracks on the left, take a dirt road that leads straight to the field where the tree grows. The monumental oak is actually inside a private property, but access is free to all.

Botanical Card

In Italy, this species is most widespread in the Ionian and Tyrrhenian regions, as well as on the major islands, while on the Adriatic side it is found quite sporadically.
There are two groups of relic trees belonging to warmer periods on the Euganean Hills and around the city of Ferrara.

The northernmost point of growth of the holm oak is in the Carnic Prealps, on vertical cliffs exposed to the south.

The holm oak is an evergreen plant with leathery leaves that form a dark green crown.

The species is xerotolerant, prefers protective shading in the juvenile phase and adapts well to different types of soils but avoids clayey-compact ones with any water stagnation.

The wood is hard and difficult to process and season as it tends to warp and split. It was once used to build tools or parts of farming wagons due to its extreme durability. It can be used as excellent fuel or very good coal.

Photo source: http://www.florablog.it/2009/11/27/alberi-monumentali-il-leccio-di-poggio-amaro-a-bucine-ar/

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)