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Cork oak. Legends, myths, symbolism, description, cultivation, methods of application

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Content

1. Photos, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism
2. Genus, family, origin, range, chemical composition, economic importance
3. Botanical description, reference data, useful information, illustrations
4. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology
5. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Cork oak, Quercus suber. Photos of the plant, basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Basic scientific information, legends, myths, symbolism

Sort by: Quercus

Family: Beech (Fagaceae)

Origin: Europe, North Africa

Area: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Chemical composition: Cork oak bark contains substances that can be used to make cork and other materials. The leaves contain tannins and other biologically active compounds.

Economic value: Cork oak bark is used to produce cork, which is widely used in industry. The leaves are prescribed in folk medicine as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Legends and myths: In ancient Greek mythology, cork oak was associated with the goddess Minerva, who was a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and art. According to legend, Minerva loved cork oak for its beauty and used its bark to create her armor and shield. In medieval Europe, cork oak was used to create sacred artifacts and objects of worship. The plant was considered a symbol of longevity and strength, and was used in religious ceremonies and magical rituals. Cork oak is considered a symbol of stability, durability and reliability. Its use in interior design stems from the belief in its ability to bring peace and protection to people's lives.

Cork oak, Quercus suber. Description, illustrations of the plant

Cork oak, Quercus suber. Botanical description of the plant, areas of growth and ecology, economic importance, applications

Cork oak is an evergreen tree native to southwestern Europe and North Africa; species of the oak genus (Quercus) of the beech family (Fagaceae).

Cork oak has been introduced to other areas of the Mediterranean, where it is cultivated for cork.

It has a large number of subspecies, forms and varieties, which are considered synonyms of the species by modern science.

The height of the cork oak is up to 20 m, the diameter of the trunk is up to 1 m. The bark of the trunk and branches has a thick cork layer; young shoots and buds are covered with thick felty yellowish-gray pubescence.

Leaves on petioles 1-1,5 cm long, oval or oblong-oval, 3-7 cm long and 1,5-3,5 cm wide, entire or with a few small sharp teeth, brilliant dark green above, densely gray below -pubescent, rarely almost naked, evergreen, leathery.

Acorns one to three, on a short, 1-2 cm long, stalk, ripen in the first year, elongated-oval up to 3 cm long and 1,5 cm in diameter, surrounded by a cupule up to 1⁄2-1⁄3; cupule calyx pubescent, elongate-lanceolate in its upper part, about 0,5 cm long, straight, spaced, shorter in the lower part.

Blooms in May.

Cork oak plantations in Portugal (the leader in cork production), Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria occupy up to 2,2 million hectares. The annual harvest is up to 360 tons of bark.

For the first time on the territory of the Russian Empire, cork oak was planted in the 1820s; its largest plantations were in Agudzer near Sukhum (about 500 trees), near Gagra (about 500 trees), in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (about 150 trees).

In Spain, cork oak forests are protected as habitat for the Iberian lynx.

Cork oak bark is used for the production of parquet, shoe soles, high-quality bottle caps. A cubic decimeter of cork oak bark weighs 210 g. The oak ripening age for the first bark cut is 25 years. The average period of the off-season between scrapings of the bark from an oak to restore its productive layer lasts from 9 to 18 years, depending on the weather, climate and soil conditions in the growing region. The first bark cut from a young tree yields a coarse, inferior grade cork (referred to as "male cork"), all subsequent scrapings yield a soft, superior grade and high quality cork ("female cork"). With an average lifespan of a tree of 150 years, one tree produces 8 to 16 cork crops.

Cork oak bark is also widely used to produce cork; for this purpose, exclusively natural plantings of it in the territory of growth are intended. The main cork-producing countries are Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia. The average annual production of cork in the Mediterranean countries, where only cork is collected, is 250 thousand tons. Cork oak, which has been growing in the USA since the second half of the XNUMXth century, in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Texas, Florida, is not cultivated for household needs (although its population there exceeds several thousand trees) and all cork is imported from the Iberian Peninsula and partly from North Africa.

Cork oak wood is heavy, specific gravity 0,8-1,0; without special treatment, it easily warps, cracks and rots, therefore, in its raw form, it is used mainly for fuel and charcoal. The bast contains up to 20% of tannins used for tanning leather.

Cork oak bark is the second after fir in terms of thermal conductivity - 0,04 W / (m K) - this is 4,25 times lower than that of ordinary oak. Due to its low thermal conductivity and high moisture resistance, cork wood has been used since ancient times in the Mediterranean in housing construction as a heat-insulating and vibration-insulating material, interior partitions, flooring, as well as life-saving equipment in navigation.

Unlike a plank floor, the floorboards of which creak when walked on, a cork floor made of pressed cork laid with a solid flooring (carpet) or rectangular panels from 10 x 10 to 30 x 90 cm is practically silent, therefore, in addition to dwellings, it is used in libraries, museum institutions, recording studios, some gyms, etc.

Cork oak, Quercus suber. Recipes for use in traditional medicine and cosmetology

Ethnoscience:

• For the treatment of skin diseases: prepare a decoction of cork oak bark by boiling it in water for 20-30 minutes. Refrigerate the decoction and use it to wash skin affected by eczema, dermatitis, or other skin conditions.
• For the treatment of hemorrhoids: Mix 1 tablespoon of cork oak bark powder with enough water to make a paste. Apply this paste on the affected area and leave it on for 20-30 minutes. This paste can help reduce the inflammation and itching associated with hemorrhoids.
• To treat a cold: brew 1 teaspoon of dried cork oak leaves in 1 cup boiling water and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Drink this infusion 2-3 times a day to relieve cold symptoms such as cough and runny nose.
• For the treatment of wounds: Apply a small amount of honey to cork oak bark powder and use this mixture to treat wounds. This will help prevent infection and promote faster healing.

Cosmetology:

• Mask for the face: Mix 1 tablespoon cork oak bark powder with 1 tablespoon honey and enough water to make a paste. Apply this mask on your face and let it stay for 15-20 minutes. Then wash off with warm water. This mask will help cleanse the skin of toxins and eliminate inflammation.
• Body Scrub: Mix 1 tablespoon cork oak bark powder with 1 tablespoon shea butter and 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Use this body scrub to remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture.
• Face tonic: brew 1 teaspoon of dried cork oak leaves in 1 cup boiling water and let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Strain and use this infusion as a facial tonic to reduce inflammation and eliminate acne-causing bacteria.

Attention! Before use, consult with a specialist!

Cork oak, Quercus suber. Tips for growing, harvesting and storing

Cork oak (Quercus suber) is a type of tree native to Mediterranean countries including Portugal, Spain and Morocco. It is an important source of cork and is used to make bottle caps and other products.

Tips for growing, harvesting and storing cork oak:

Cultivation:

• Cork oak is grown from seeds or cuttings that can be planted in the ground in spring or autumn.
• This species of oak grows best in sunny locations with well-drained, nutrient-rich soils.
• Plants need regular watering and fertilization.

Workpiece:

• Cork oak bark is harvested by trimming the bark from the sides of the tree every 9-10 years. The bark should be harvested at the time when it is at its thinnest.
• The bark should be stripped of leaves and other materials and left to dry in the sun for several days.
• The bark must then be washed and dried before being used to make corks.

Storage:

• Cork, obtained from the bark of the cork oak, is stored in closed containers or folded into storage bags.
• The cork should be stored in a dry place to avoid damage.

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