English Oak — Quercus robur

Quercus is Latin meaning fine tree; robur is for any hard wood. Oak forests once covered a large part of England and English oak was for many years a major component of British fighting vessels.

This species might well be called the symbol of Fairmount, for there are numerous fine examples of mature English oaks at Fairmount. Several are the largest specimens west of the Mississippi River. The English oak is a native of Europe. It seems to adapt to a wide variety of soils but will do best in well-drained, sandy clay, loam.

An easy way to recognize this species is the small, shallowly-lobed foliage with short stalks (petioles). At the base of the leaf blade are a pair of small lobes, termed auricles or “ears.” The leaves are also stiff, almost leathery to the touch. Acorns are borne on long stalks. The cup is almost smooth; the nut elongated and frequently four times longer than the cup is deep.

The bark of English oak is characteristically dark brown and closely fissured (in small, corky blocks). Perhaps one disadvantage of this species in Colorado is the tendency for it to hold leaves into the winter. Some dislike the brown, clinging leaves all winter. The persistent leaves, however, do not contribute to storm breakage for the tree is strongly branched and rarely will break under the weight of snow. This species merits more planting in Colorado where soils and climatic conditions are appropriate.

Other Denver locations

South High School; City Nursery at South Logan and luff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Oak