Quercus ilex - Holm oak
Location: Kew Gardens, London. Quercus ilex is a European native oak and can be seen in the cold of Northern Europe and in the heat of the Mediterranean. It can grow to heights of 25 meters. These specimens have nothing growing underneath them, it's thick bushy characteristics enable it to defeat competition for sunlight.
A shot of the internal structure.
The bark is dark grey/brown and has fine cracks in it.
What distinguishes Quercus ilex amongst other oaks is its holly shaped leaves. (hence ilex)
They are long and narrow with short hairs underneath, unlike other oaks it has no lobes.
When mature the leaves turn shiny and waxy.
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