The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
Found throughout Middle-earth
Species
Various trees of the genus Quercus, especially Quercus robur, the English Oak, and Quercus ilex, the Holm-oak1
Meaning
An ancient name of uncertain origin2

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 October 2013
  • Updates planned: 1

Oaks

Majestic woodland trees

One of the commonest trees in Middle-earth, found throughout its forests.


Notes

1

Though Tolkien's references to these trees are generally simply 'oak', he must surely have normally had in mind the tall and strong English Oak, Quercus robur. A significant exception is the holm-oak, a smaller evergreen variety that is explicitly identified as growing in Ithilien.

2

The original Indo-European word for 'oak' was something like dreu, but in the Germanic language branch that word evolved to describe any tree (and indeed is the source of the word 'tree' itself). As that change developed, oaks received their own specific name (probably originally aiks), but the origin of that name remains unclear.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 30 October 2013
  • Updates planned: 1

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