Cork oak
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Description
A medium-sized evergreen oak, Quercus suber, native to the Mediterranean region. The cork oak is grown commercially for its thick, spongy bark. The Cork is harvested every 10-12 years. The wood from the cork oak is too brittle for use.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Quercus suber; Korkeiche (Deut.); alcornoque(Esp.); chêne-liège (Fr.); sûrier (Fr.); kurkeik (Ned.); sobreiro (Port.); sughera (It.); quercia da sughero (It.); cork tree
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Medium sized tree growing to 20 m.
- Bark=very thick porous, light gray with deep reddish-brown furrows.
- Leaves = simple ovoid, dark green with wavy toothed edges.
- Fruit=narrow acorn with loose scaly cap, maturing every year.
Resources and Citations
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Virginia Tech Dendrology website at www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/main.htm (accessed Oct. 8, 2005)
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cork_oak (Accessed Oct. 8, 2005)
- Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976