Uses
Edible uses
Notes
Unknown part
Seed
Material uses
Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff[3]. Bark is the source of cork, it is much used for heat and sound insulation, flooring, floats etc. Trees are first harvested when they are 25 - 30 years old[4], and then harvested every 6 - 12 years[5]. The bark must be removed carefully so as not to harm the tree. A large tree can yield up to 1 tonne of cork.
Wood.Ecology
Ecosystem niche/layer
Ecological Functions
Nothing listed.
Forage
Nothing listed.
Shelter
Nothing listed.
Propagation
Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Quercus suber occidentalis. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.
Cultivation
Cultivated for its bark in Europe, it is the main source of cork[9][10]. This sub-species has slightly thinner bark than the species[6].Trees are first harvested when they are 25 - 30 years old and are then harvested on a 10 - 12 year rotation. Only hardy in the milder areas of Britain[8], it is not very frost resistant[11]. This sub-species is somewhat hardier than the type[6]. Trees grow well in Cornwall where there are many large specimens[6][12][13]. There is at least one large healthy specimen of this tree at Kew, it produced some seeds in the hot summer of 1989[K]. Transplants badly unless it is moved regularly, it should only be moved in September or as growth commences in late spring[6]. Does not fruit well in Britain. Most of the trees grown in Britain as Q. suber are in fact this sub-species[6]. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[8].
This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[14][8].Crops
Problems, pests & diseases
Associations & Interactions
There are no interactions listed for Quercus suber occidentalis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.
Polycultures & Guilds
There are no polycultures listed which include Quercus suber occidentalis.
Descendants
Cultivars
Varieties
None listed.
Subspecies
None listed.
Full Data
This table shows all the data stored for this plant.
References
- ? 1.01.1 Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing (1976-00-00)
- ? 2.02.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
- ? 3.03.13.23.3 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
- ? 4.04.1 Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation (1968-00-00)
- ? 5.05.1 Rosengarten. jnr. F. The Book of Edible Nuts. Walker & Co. ISBN 0802707699 (1984-00-00)
- ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.66.7 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
- ? Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-86318-386-7 (1990-00-00)
- ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
- ? 9.09.1 ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press (1964-00-00)
- ? Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)
- ? Gordon. A. G. and Rowe. D. C. f. Seed Manual for Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. ()
- ? Arnold-Forster. Shrubs for the Milder Counties. ()
- ? Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. ()
- ? RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society (1987-00-00)