Reaches heights of 30 to 50m, are very light demanding but do not cast very much shade, on nutrient rich soils a thick layer of Vaccinium myrtillus can dominate the field layer and also Ericaceae and Melampyrum (Wilkinson, 1977). On very poor soils Cladonia and a few scattered xerophytic plants may grow (Tansley, 1939). Older trees have a more flattened crown, leaves grow in pairs from a short sheath, giving the foliage a bunchy texture (Wilkinson, 1977).