The holm oak (Quercus ilex) reigns over the wooded areas of Provence up to 4,921 ft (1,500 m) above sea level. Xerophilic and wind-resistant, it is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate. It is recognizable by its evergreen foliage in the shape of a dense ovoid crown with many branches and its short and often tortuous trunk. The holm oak's smooth grayish-colored bark cracks into thin blackish-brown patches as it ages. About 50 ft (15 m) tall on average, it has a lifespan of 200 to 2,000 years.