Rhenish Oak (Quercus rhenana (Kräusel et Weyland) Knobloch et Z.Kvaček)

Exhibit of the Month 8 / 2017

Rhenish Oak

Quercus rhenana (Kräusel et Weyland) Knobloch et Z.Kvaček

This swamp evergreen tree was widespread throughout the coal basin areas of northwestern Bohemia. Its entire-edged, elongated oval to lanceolate leaves reached lengths of up to 40 centimeters. The age of this fossil is about 15 to 20 million years. In some locations, it was the predominant fossil, for example, the Marianna mine and quarry in Skyřice near Most. This area was later filled with spoil and today is the site of the Most hippodrome. An extraordinary find of a 30 cm long leaf of this species can also be seen in the ongoing exhibition Tertiary Flora of the Most Basin on the first floor of the Regional Museum in Most.