Abstract The surface waxes from the leaves of Quercus robur L. were comprised largely of the common wax lipids in homologous series namely hydrocarbons (6.4%), esters (1.1%), aldehydes (38.8%), primary alcohols (36.0%) and fatty acids (6.1 %). In addition, triterpenols (3.6%), namely taraxerol, β-amyrin, α-amyrin and lupeol and the corresponding triterpenol esters (0.5%) were also found in smaller amounts.