Quercus x hispanica ‘Lucombeana’
Common names: Lucombe Oak, Drouis,Cerrosughera,Sugherella
Irish name:
Latin name: Quercus x hispanica ‘Lucombeana’
Family: Oak
Origin: Non native
Tree type: Semi Deciduous Broadleaf
How it looks
Shape, bark and twigs
This tree can grow up to 30 meters tall and has a base diameter of up to 2 meters. The bark is highly variable, with some specimens featuring thick and spongy textures, while others are only slightly so. Additionally, the bark ranges in colour from dark grey-brown to lighter shades.
Buds
The young shoots are gray and fuzzy, and they have small leaf-like structures around the side buds that are shorter than those of Quercus x cerris and drop off more quickly.
Leaves
The leaves are semi-evergreen or evergreen, lasting until late winter or new growth, but can be deciduous in cold winters. They are elliptical to egg-shaped, measuring up to 12 cm long and 5 cm wide, with rounded tips and bases that can be either rounded or pointed. The edges of the leaves have little pointy bits, and they can have shallow or deep indents. The leaves are shiny and dark green on top, but as they get older, they become more of a greyish-green colour
Flowers
The flowers of the Lucombe Oak are inconspicuous, with a yellow-green colour, typically appear in the spring.
Fruits
Acorns are the fruits of the oak tree. The cup that holds the acorn is shaped like a spinning top, sometimes alone and sometimes in pairs, measuring up to 2 × 3 cm. It's covered in thin, fuzzy scales that bend back at the base and stand up towards the edge. The acorns are egg-shaped, blunt at the tip, and more than half covered by the cup. They take two years to ripen.
Similar species
Quercus x crenata 'Fulhamensis'
Where to find it
In southwest Europe, oak trees resembling the Lucombe hybrid can be found here and there, while Quercus × hispanica also occurs as isolated trees in northern Europe, with a notabe a distribution of oak trees throughout England, particularly along the northeastern section. This tree thrives in moist, well-drained soils such as chalk, clay, loam, and sand, and can grow in a wide range of soil conditions, including acidic, alkaline, and neutral soils.
Cultural importance
While hybridization between turkey oak and cork oak occurs spontaneously in nature, the first true cultivated Lucombe oak was bred by the horticulturist William Lucombe at his nursery in Exeter in 1762. A young species in this regard, it does not have a long cultural history.
Lucombe propogated cuttings from the hybrid and distributed them to landed estates where they were popular as an ornamental tree. In addition, Lucombe’s son, went on to grow seedlings from the original Lucombe oak and cultivated a new variety known as ‘New Lucombe Oak’.
It is said that Lucombe himself was so taken with the oak that in 1785 he felled the original tree, split it into timbers, which he apparently stored under his bed, with the intention of using them to make his coffin when he eventually passed away. However, he lived to the ripe old age of 102, by which time the timbers had rotted and wood from another Lucombe oak had to be used instead.
Excellent examples of the Lucombe oak can be seen at Killerton House in Devon and Kew Gardens, and there is a champion Lucombe oak at Powis Castle in Wales. In Ireland, there are lovely examples at Tullynally Castle and Gardens, Co. Westmeath , the UCC Arboretum, Co. Cork and Tralee Town Park, Co. Kerry.
Value to wildlife
Quercus × hispanica is vital for various wildlife species, providing essential habitats and food sources. Its acorns serve as a critical resource for birds and mammals, including jays and squirrels. These acorns can contain up to 50% starch, along with amino acids, proteins, and lipids, making them highly nutritious. The tree supports numerous insect species, which are crucial for the food web, particularly for birds during their breeding seasons.
Threats
Threats such as hybridisation (can dilute beneficial genetic traits, leading to a loss of unique characteristics essential for survival in specific environments), invasive species, and climate change pose significant risks to its survival and the health of the ecosystems it inhabits. Conservation efforts are essential to mitigate these threats.
Uses
Widely planted in parks, arboreta, and botanical gardens for its aesthetic appeal, this tree is also historically valued for its distinctive timber qualities.
References
BBC. 2011. Kew Gardens' Important Trees: The Lucombe Oak - Quercus x hispanica 'lucombeana', BBC Website. BBC - h2g2 - Kew Gardens' Important Trees: The Lucombe Oak - Quercus x hispanica 'lucombeana'
Cameron, R. 2017. Hybrid Highlight: Quercus ×hispanica Lam. - A Non-Hispanic Hybrid, International Oak Society. Hybrid Highlight: Quercus ×hispanica Lam. - A Non-Hispanic Hybrid | International Oak Society
Coombes, A. and Cameron, R. 2021. 'Quercus × hispanica', Trees and Shrubs Online. Quercus × hispanica - Trees and Shrubs Online
Coombes, A. and Cameron, R. (2021) Quercus × hispanica. Available from: https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/quercus/quercus-x-hispanica/ [Accessed: 6 December 2024].
Deverell, R. 2020. 5 standout trees at Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 5 standout trees at Kew | Kew
Keele University. n.d. The Trees at Keele, Keele University. Lucombe Oak - Keele University
Inácio, L.G., Bernardino, R., Bernardino, S. and Afonso, C., 2024. Acorns: From an Ancient Food to a Modern Sustainable Resource. Sustainability, 16(22), p.9613.