AN OVERVIEW OF ECOLOGY AND SILVICULTURE OF INDIGENOUS OAKS IN FRANCE

There are nine species of oaks in French forests: Quercus petraea, Q r obur, Q pubescens, Q pyrenaica, Q ilex, Q rubra, Q suber, Q coccifera and Q cerris. Among them, five are of major economic and ecological im portance, either because of the quality and value of their wood or bec ause of their geographic extension, or both. Two of these species are widespread in the hills and plains of the Atlantic and of the mid-Euro pean domains: Q petraea (sessile oak), and Q robur (pedunculate oak). Four are present in the Mediterranean region: Q pubescens (pubescent o ak), Q ilex (helm oak), Q suber (cork oak) and Q coccifera (kermes oak ). Pubescent oak is also present in the Atlantic and mid-European regi ons provided the local soil and climate conditions are favorable. The last species is of very limited extent and will not be considered furt her in this review. First, we will analyze the distributions of these species in France, as they result from the vegetation dynamics in Euro pe and the long-lasting action of man. Second, their synecology will b e described, based on the empirical knowledge accumulated by botanists and phytoecologists. We will then describe the vegetation series to w hich they are related. We will next consider the results of ecophysiol ogal studies of the species, carried out in many laboratories in Franc e and in other European countries. Finally, we will review the sylvicu ltural practices applied to oak forests, their productivity under diff erent local conditions and the diverse products they yield.