Turkey Oak is a tree that grows vigorously, reaching a height of 40 metres. Turkey Oak is not a native species,  it was introduced into Britain in 1735. Like other oaks, it belong to the Beech family (Fagaceae). The tree is native to an area from south east France across to the Balkans and Turkey. Its wood (unlike that of the pedunculate or sessile oak) has little value as the timber splits and/or warps during seasoning / drying. It can be used as firewood but in a wood burning stove as it tends to throw sparks! Turkey Oak is host to a parasitic wasp that also forms galls on native oaks. In its natural range, it is a pioneer species and can quickly colonise open areas. In this respect, it is useful in terms of erosion control and soil conservation. It can also tolerate air pollution and drought (to a degree) so it may one planted as an ornamental tree in urban areas. However, some regard it as an invasive species and seek to remove it from woodland. The turkey oak is not home to the variety of species that are found in the native oaks.

The trunk is often long and straight with branches that are somewhat more slender than those seen on English Oaks. One of the tree’s distinctive features is the bark, which has orange coloured fissures near to the base of the trunk

The male flowers hang in long catkins and the female ones form acorns, that sit in cups or cupules. The male catkins are a source of pollen for bees and other insects. In the turkey oak, the cupule / acorn cup is covered with a ‘forest’ of tiny outgrowths so that the 'cup' itself is scarcely visible. The acorns that form are quite prominent / long.