Quercus floribunda

Lindl. ex A. Camus

Green oak, Moru oak

Fagaceae Edible: Leaves, Seeds, Nuts 35 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Quercus floribunda, called the Moru oak or Mohru oak, Tilonj oak and green oak, is a species of oak native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India's western Himalaya, and Nepal, typically found from 2,000 to 3,000 metres (6,600 to 9,800 feet) above sea level. It is in the subgenus Cerris, section Ilex. An evergreen tree with a dense crown reaching 30 m (98 ft), it is an important fuelwood and fodder species.

Description

A tree. It grows 20 m tall. The leaves are narrowly oval or sword shaped and rough. They are 4-12 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. They are entire or can have spiny teeth. They are green on both surfaces. The male flowers are in loose catkins up to 5 cm long. The nut is half covered by a covering 2-2.5 cm wide. The nut is oval and brown.

Edible Uses

The acorn must be cooked before eating. It can be dried and ground into flour for thickening stews or mixing with cereals for bread. Bitter tannins are present and should be leached out by washing thoroughly in running water, though minerals are also lost. Whole seeds may take several days or weeks to leach fully; wrapping them in a cloth bag and placing in a running stream is one method. Ground meal leaches faster. A taste test confirms when enough tannin has been removed. Traditionally, seeds were buried in boggy ground over winter and dug up in spring once most astringency had gone. The roasted seed makes a coffee substitute. Galls that form on the leaves are sweet and edible, though it is unclear from available records whether they are eaten while the insect is still inside or after it has departed.

Traditional Uses

Galls on the leaves are sweet and edible. The nuts are roasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and have been used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. In Pakistan it grows between 1,600-2,900 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Asia, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in this country. Trees coppice well and seedlings are fairly shade tolerant. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted. Prefers warmer summers than are usually experienced in Britain, trees often grow poorly in this country and fail to properly ripen their wood resulting in frost damage overwinter. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Acorns lose viability quickly if allowed to dry out. They can be stored moist and cool over winter, but are best sown as soon as ripe in an outdoor seed bed with protection from mice and squirrels. Small quantities can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Because plants develop a deep taproot early, they should be moved to permanent positions as soon as possible — seed sown in situ produces the best trees. Do not leave trees in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons, as they transplant very poorly after that point.

Other Uses

A mulch of the leaves repels slugs and grubs, though fresh leaves should not be used as they can inhibit plant growth. Oak galls, caused by the larvae of various insects, can be harvested after the insect pupates and leaves, at which point they serve as a rich source of tannin that also functions as a dyestuff. The wood is very hard, strong, and durable, and is used for construction.

Synonyms

Quercus dealbata RoyleQuercus dilatata Lindl. ex A. DC.Quercus dilatata RoyleQuercus himalayana Bahadur

Also Known As

Barungi, Chora, Ghora tsore, Kali ring, Kilonj, Tilonj, Moru

References (6)

Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 508 (As Quercus dilatata)
Farooq, S., et al, 2012, Ethnobotanical Studies of the Flora of Tehsil Birmal in South Waziristan Agency, Pakistan. Pak. J. Weed Sci. Res. 18(3): 277-291 (As Quercus dilatata)
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org (As Quercus dilatata)
Hamayun, M., Ethnobotanical Studies of some Useful Shrubs and Trees of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/ (As Quercus dilatata)

Show all 6 references