Quercus suber
Quercus suber
Safety & Hazards
All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content. Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[ 293 Title Poisonous Plants of North Carolina Publication Author Website http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/poison.htm Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent concise but comprehensive guide to toxic plants that grow in N. Carolina. It lists even those plants that are of very low toxicity, including several well-known food plants such as carrots and potatoes. ].
Botanical Description
Quercus suber is an evergreen tree that usually grows up to 20 metres tall, occasionally reaching 25 metres. The bole can be up to 150cm in diameter. The trunk and larger branches of older trees are covered with a thick layer of corky bark[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. , 1228 Title European Atlas of Forest Tree Species Publication Author San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., de Rigo, D., Caudullo, G., Houston Dur Website http://10.2788/038466 Publisher European Commission Year 2016 ISBN 978-92-79-52833-0 Description An excellent guide to the forest trees of Europe. It can be downloaded from the Internet ]. This tree is the main source of cork, a material that has been used by humans for more than 2,000 years and is the sixth-most important non-wood forest product produced globally. It is often cultivated, or managed, for its bark, especially in Iberia, but also in other areas incliding the Crimea, Caucasus, India and southwestern USA[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. The tree is also harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials, and is also sometimes grown as an ornamental and shade tree.