This small shrubby tree is producing attractive fresh leaves beside the Henslow Walk.
The Armenian oak has a natural range of Armenia, eastern Turkey, northern Iran and the Caucasus. The species takes its specific name from Pontus, the ancient Greek name given for the region on the southern shores of the Black Sea in Turkey. It is a small deciduous tree or shrub reaching 6m in height. The newly emerging leaves have appressed hairs on the lower surface, and show distinct parallel ribs (or veins), and an uneven toothed margin. These will reach up to 20cm in length and mature to develop a glossy upper surface with a distinct yellow midrib. This is a monoecious species, producing insignificant clusters of female flowers and showy male catkins to 20cm in length with the emerging leaves.