LusoQuercus is a Cibio-Biopolis project that develops an integrated approach for the conservation and restoration of Quercus lusitanica through complementary lines of action, supported by scientific and community engagement objectives.
Research
Integrate population genomics data and climate distribution models.
Conservation
Mapping, population protection, vegetative and seminal propagation of Quercus lusitanica
Restoration
Assisted planting using scientific knowledge followed by monitoring and corrective interventions.
Awareness
Dissemination sessions, volunteer actions and citizen science for occurrence logging and acorn collection.
Quercus lusitanica Lam.
Priority Conservation - Natura Network · Habitat 5330PORTUGUESE NATURAL HERITAGE
Dwarf oak native to Portugal, commonly called carvalhiça. Grows as a shrub that spreads through underground stems (rhizomes).
PIONEER SPECIES
The ability to propagate by rhizomes gives Q. lusitanica great resilience to fires, being one of the first species to emerge after fire and creating essential transition conditions for forest regeneration.
DISTRIBUTION
Quercus lusitanica presents an Atlantic distribution, occurring in western Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. Preferentially in acidic and poor soils, where it develops in the undergrowth of oak forests. Climate change scenarios project (2100) a significant loss of climatically suitable areas, accompanied by a displacement of these conditions to the Northwest, where populations are fragmented, with low conservation status and under threat, at risk of disappearance and reduction of the species' occurrence area at national level (Vila - Viçosa, 2023).
PRESENT
PREDICTION
Gallery
CAMPAIGN
AUTUMN 2025
LOCATION
- Focus 0-800m altitude
- Mixed forests
- Acidic substrates (sandstones, granites, schists, sandy soils), excluding limestones
- Association with typical vegetation of cork oak and oak forests (heathlands, rockrose, strawberry tree)
IDENTIFICATION
- Shrub structure
- Rhizomatous growth (horizontal underground stem extensions)
- Examine leaves for absence of lobes in the 1/3 to 1/2 and short petiole
LOGGING AND COLLECTING
- Photograph the plant, leaves and acorns
- Log geographic coordinates (LAT-LONG-WGS84 in decimal degrees) on the zip bag
- Record the observation on iNaturalist and associate to "LusoQuercus" activity
- Collect mature acorns directly from the plant, clean and label the bag with date/location
BEST PRACTICES
- Respect properties and sensitive areas; moderate collection
- Use gloves
- Never introduce plants outside their origin area without guidance
PLANTING
WINTER 2025
Quercus lusitanica
Identification Support
Shrub growth
- Rhizomatous shrub that rarely exceeds 3 m
- Often just a thicket of about 50 cm
- Contrasts with the tree form of related species
Typical leaf
- Size approximately 2.5-12 cm × 1.2-5 cm
- Glaucous-greyish color on the lower surface
- Entire margins (without teeth or lobes) in the 1/3 to 1/2 lower portion
- Shorter petioles (1-3.5 mm vs. 5-20 mm) compared to Portuguese oak (Q. faginea)
Typical associations
