English oak

The commoner of the two oak species native to Britain, dominant on the loams and clays of the lowlands. It is distinguished from the other native oak (durmast oak) by its shorter petiole (4–10mm), lobes at the base of the leaf, acorns on stalks (peduncles) 4–8cm long, and more contorted branches. The English oak would grow best on soils now used for agriculture. Its elbow-like branches were formerly useful for making crucks.

This definition is abridged from A – Z of tree terms: A companion to British arboriculture.
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