Flora-Fauna

Quercus kotschyana O.Schwarz

(First published in Notizblatt des Königlichen Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 12: 466, 1935)

• Life-form & habit: Large deciduous tree, in favorable conditions exceeding 20-25 m in height; trunk diameter in older individuals can reach over 1 m. Usually part of montane cedar woodland or mixed montane broadleaf-forest. internationaloaksociety.org+1

• Leaves: Leathery, blade 6-12 × 3.2-6.5 cm, shape from round-oval to oblong-lanceolate; margin with deep narrow sinuses, lobes broadly linear and acuminate; upper surface tomentose when young, becoming more or less glabrous; lower surface densely tomentose, especially along veins. Petioles slender, stellate-hairy, 1.5-2.7 cm long. oaksoftheworld.fr+1

• Inflorescence & flowers: Acorns borne on thick, tomentose peduncles, in small clusters (2-6 per short raceme) at the axils of apical leaves. Cupule roughly hemispheric, scales linear-lanceolate, densely tomentose. oaksoftheworld.fr+1

• Fruits (acorns): Acorns maturing in the second year, enclosed partially by the cupule (cupule covering perhaps about half or slightly less); peduncles thick and tomentose. oaksoftheworld.fr+2scienzadellavegetazione.it+2

• Phenology: Flowering in spring; fruit maturation over two seasons. internationaloaksociety.org+1

• Habitat & elevation: Montane Mediterranean environment, typically at elevations ≈ 1,300-1,900 (some sources say 1,500-2,000) meters. Prefers cooler, humid sites (often with cloud/fog, or winter snow) and usually on west-facing slopes. Often grows amongst or in association with Cedrus libani stands. internationaloaksociety.org+2oaksoftheworld.fr+2

• Lebanese distribution: Endemic to Lebanon. Known from Ehden Cedars, Horsh Ehden, Bsharri, Tannourine Cedars, Jaj Cedars, parts of Mount Lebanon. internationaloaksociety.org+2oaksoftheworld.fr+2

• Native range: Lebanon only (endemic) according to modern taxonomic revisions. internationaloaksociety.org+1

• Diagnostic remarks:
 – Often mistaken for Quercus pubescens (or its subspecies) or Quercus cerris, due to similarity of lobed leaves.
 – Distinguished by deeper sinuses, more linear lobes, denser tomentum on lower leaf surface, and its distinct acorn peduncle and cupule characters.
 – Recent morphometric and holotype studies (Stephan & Teeny 2017-18) confirm its distinctness.