Quercus rotundifolia

Quercus rotundifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Cerris
Section: Quercus sect. Ilex
Species:
Q. rotundifolia
Binomial name
Quercus rotundifolia
Species' distribution: Q. rotundifolia (pink), Q. ilex (green)
Synonyms[2][3]
  • Quercus ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.
  • Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia (Lam.) O.Schwarz ex Tab.Morais

Quercus rotundifolia, the holm oak or ballota oak,[4] is an evergreen oak native to the western Mediterranean region, with the majority of the population in the Iberian Peninsula and minor populations in Northwest Africa. The species was first described by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1785. It is the typical species of the Iberian dehesa or montado, where its sweet-astringent acorns are a source of food for livestock, particularly the Iberian pig. Its acorns have also been used for human nourishment since the Neolithic era (7,000 BC).[5] It is placed in section Ilex.[6] Some authors described it as a subspecies of Quercus ilex.[7]

  1. ^ Jerome, D.; Vazquez, F. (2018). "Quercus rotundifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T78972238A78972273. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T78972238A78972273.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Quercus rotundifolia Lam". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Quercus rotundifolia Lam". The Plant List. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Quercus rotundifolia Lam. (1785)". International Oak Society. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference IOS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Denk, Thomas; Grimm, Guido W.; Manos, Paul S.; Deng, Min & Hipp, Andrew L. (2017). "Appendix 2.1: An updated infrageneric classification of the oaks" (xls). figshare. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  7. ^ "Quercus rotundifolia Lam. (1785)". International Oak Society. Retrieved 2023-03-08.