The sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is a treefound in the forests of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere,belonging to the Fagaceae family. It is known by various names: male oak, drille, drillar, durelin, black oak, white oak…
The name "oak" comes from the Latin*robur*, which also means "strength" and likely gave rise to the common noun "tree" through a phonetic shift. The adjective"sessile"also comes from Latin and means "able to sit," implying that it grows directly on the twigs.
The English oak has been chosen as the national tree of Wales
It is a large deciduous tree, growing 20 to 40 meters tall. It can live for 500 to 1,000 years. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 60 to 70 years. It is a monoecious species pollinated by insects but dispersed by animals. It prefers sufficiently humid oceanic climates and siliceous or decalcified soils.
It requires regular watering but can tolerate short-term droughts.
The bark is smooth, with slight longitudinal fissures. The crown is broad but fairly sparse. Young twigs are glabrous and glossy. The buds are ovoid. The leaves are alternate, glabrous, distinctly petiolate, and have a cuneate base. The lobes are not very pronounced but numerous and regular. The acorns are sessile, 1 to 2 centimeters long, ovoid, globose, with a glabrous cupule; flowering and pollen release generally occur in mid-May in France.
It is a very common species in Western Europe and the most widespread in French forests. It is found throughout the plains and hills of France, except in the Mediterranean region. It is common throughout Europe, extending no further north than 60° N in Norway and reaching its southern limit in central Spain and southern Albania.
It grows up to an elevation of 1,600 meters in the low mountain zone and at the base of the high mountain zone. It often hybridizes with the pedunculate oak.
One of the most beautiful stands of sessile oak trees is located in the Tronçais Forest (Allier).
The light brownish-yellow wood is hard and dense. It becomes highly valuable when sourced from mature oak trees. It is then highly sought after for cabinetmaking, the production of staves for cooperage, and for slicing. In woodturning, it is a magnificent and majestic wood; the older and drier it is, the better. Its aromatic notes are highly prized—dry and robust. It has been used by humans for millennia, particularly during times of scarcity.
Roasted acorns are a coffee substitute.
Flour made from acorns that have been peeled, crushed, and boiled several times produces a purée that can be used immediately in savory dishes or sweet desserts, or dried and ground to yield a high-quality flour that keeps well.
