A handsome, wide, spreading deciduous tree to 36 m, with a girth of 4 - 5 m, and said to be the fastest growing of all oaks. It likes hot climates and tolerates drought. A native to south eastern Europe through to western Asia. Excellent in chalk soils and in areas of maritime exposure. Acorns are ground and made into bread. The branches yield a manna like substance called gaze, which is boiled down to a syrup and mixed with flour to form a sweetmeat. The wood is rosy with a slight lavender tinge and is heavy and hard, but prone to splitting.
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