Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia in Iberian Dehesas

Hendrik Brand

Published May 2019 in International Oaks No. 30: 277–282

Abstract

The dehesa is a man-made ecosystem found in southwestern Spain and Portugal within which Quercus ilex subsp. rotundifolia is the most abundant tree species. There is a great variation in the size and tannin content of their acorns. In the last few decades a few threats have affected these oaks and their numbers have decreased over the years. The aim of this project is to conserve trees that produce low-tannin acorns, reproduce them vegetatively and plant them on a conservation site. In the southwestern Iberian Peninsula a team will investigate different dehesas to determine which trees produce acorns with the lowest tannin content. Cuttings will be taken from those trees, rooted in a nursery and planted on a conservation site. Once the trees are established, research can be undertaken to determine the causes of variation in the tannin content of acorns. Trees exhibiting tannin-content stability through time will be propagated and made available for agroforestry purposes for use in producing human and animal food.

Keywords

Quercus rotundifolia, holm oak, sweet acorns, human food, agroforestry

References

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