Plant of the Week! Quercus suber Cork Oak Quercus suber is a slow growing, medium-sized evergreen that is native to countries in the western Mediterranean region. The common name of Cork Oak is in reference to the thick layer of outer bark that can be sustainably harvested and used to create a multitude of products including flooring, insulation, and wine stoppers. The lustrous and leathery green leaves of Q. suber are 5 to 10cm long, with toothed margins and a fuzzy grey underside. Q. suber is a monoecious species that produces insignificant looking male catkins and small female flower clusters in the spring. Fruit comes in the form of a 3cm long acorn with a scaly cap. The bark of Q. suber varies in colour, from light greys to beiges to browns, and has attractive reddish-brown furrows. Cork Oak is unique in that it does not die when outer bark is carefully removed. Instead, it regenerates the bark and because of this, cork is harvested and used to create a variety of products. Harvest begins once trees reach 15 to 20 years of age, with the process repeating every 9 years. On average, harvest occurs 13 times within a tree’s lifespan. The cork (phellem) contains a waxy, hydrophobic substance called suberin. This is what makes cork impervious to liquids. Cork is also lightweight, elastic, and compressible, making it a great choice for use in sealing bottles. Cork forests are important both economically and environmentally. In addition to creating a sustainable product with a variety of uses, cork oak landscapes are also important ecosystems. They provide habitat to several endangered species including the critically endangered Iberian Lynx. A handsome Q. suber specimen can be found in RBG’s Mediterranean Garden, located at RBG Centre. #RBGpotw rbg.ca/plantoftheweek
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:11:06 +0000
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