| BRIEF DESCRIPTION A tall evergreen tree reaching 30-40 m in height and a girth of 5-7 m, while girths up to 13 m have been recorded. In the open it forms a large, spreading crown and often has a short, crooked trunk, while in a close crop it produces a tall, clean, straight bole. Leaves up to 45 cm long, elliptical-lanceolate. In its natural habitat the stem and branches are almost invariably covered with a thick layer of moss. USES The wood is hard, and durable under cover, used for buildings and as a fuel. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. COMMON NAMES Buk oak, Buk, Bujrat, Shalshi. FURTHER INF Buk oak occurs in eastern Himalaya from Nepal and eastwards at elevations between 1000-3000 m. It grows on any aspect, as well as on ridges, but thrives on northerly slopes. It is shade-bearing in youth, while older trees develop best with full overhead light, but it requires much side shade to prevent the formation of side branches and promote a straight clean bole. It is very susceptible to damage by fire. (pH estimated by the compiler). |