Status
Conservation status
Not Assessed
First reported in the wild
1956
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of Medium Impact
Irish status
Occasionally present, casual, vagrant, migratory
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Ornamental purpose
Invasive score
14
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Evergreen broadleaved, oak tree up to 25m tall, 1.4m in diameter with thick, leathery leaves, 4-10cm in length and varying in shape from oval to lanceolate (Booy et al., 2015). Acorns small, 1.5-2cm long, with a felted cup covering one third to half the acorn (Booy et al., 2015).
Ecology
Outcompetes and displaces native vegetation (Booy et al., 2015; Preston et al., 2004), as well as potentially being a vector for the further spread of Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak death) (Denman et al., 2005).
Habitat
Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Constructed, industrial or other artificial habitats; Regularly or recently cultivated agricultural, horticultural or domestic habitat
Reproduction
Acorns dispersed by Eurasian jays (Garrulus glandarius) & small rodents (Gomez, 2003).
Pathway and vector description
Cultivated in Britain since the 16th century (Preston et al., 2004), there is no record for the first introduction of this species to Ireland. Widely planted as an garden tree or hedging plant it is widely available in garden centres and nurseries. Unknown if it is spreading naturally in the wild in Ireland.
Mechanism of impact
Competition
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Planted in gardens and parks but also found in natural and semi natural woodlands (Preston et al., 2004).
Species group
Plant
Native region
Europe, Africa
Similar species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Widespread but localised. Believed to be spreading in Britain (Booy et al., 2015; Preston et al., 2004), it is unclear if the spread in Ireland is real or merely a consequence of recording effort.
Native distribution
Native to the Mediterranean region of Europe & North Africa (Preston et al., 2004).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
Unknown
Fifty year date category
Unknown
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
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How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
References
Publications
Preston, C.D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. (2002). New atlas of the British and Irish flora. An atlas of the vascular plants of Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, Oxford University Press. Booy, O., Wade, M. & Roy, H. (2015) A Field Guide to Invasive Plants & Animals in Britain. Bloomsbury. Gómez, J. M. (2003). Spatial patterns in long-distance dispersal of Quercus ilex acorns by jays in a heterogeneous landscape. Ecography, 26(5), 573-584. Denman, S., Kirk, S. A., Brasier, C. M., Barton, V. C., Hughes, K. J. D., & Webber, J. F. (2005). Phytophthora ramorum on Quercus ilex in the United Kingdom. Plant Disease, 89(11), 1241-1241.