Quercus hispanica
Lam.
Lucombe oak, Spanish oak
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Sara Fonseca, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Sara Fonseca, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Sara Fonseca, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaA deciduous oak reaching 20m tall and 13m wide. Hardy to UK zone 7. Monoecious with wind pollination. Grows in medium loamy and heavy clay soils including heavy clay. Adapts to mildly acid through basic pH soils. Tolerates semi-shade or full sun, prefers moist soil. Tolerates strong winds but not coastal exposure. Note: This is a cultivar that will not breed true from seed.
Description
A tree. It grows up to 30 m high and spreads 8 m wide. The bark is thick and cracked. The leaves are dull green and have lobes. The fruit are egg shaped acorns.
Edible Uses
The seeds, which grow up to 2.5cm long, are cooked before eating. They can be dried and ground into a powder for use as a thickening agent in stews or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seeds contain bitter tannins that must be leached out by thoroughly washing in running water, though this process also removes many minerals. Either whole seeds or dried ground powder can be used. Leaching whole seeds can take several days or even weeks; one effective method is to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a running stream. Grinding to powder speeds up the process. A simple taste test indicates when enough tannin has been removed. The traditional method was to bury seeds in boggy ground overwinter, then dig up the germinating seeds in spring once most astringency had dissipated. Roasted seeds can be used as a coffee substitute.
Medicinal Uses
Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It can tolerate lime. It suits hardiness zones 6-10.
Where It Grows
Australia, Britain, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Spain,
Cultivation
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. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young. Grows fairly well in Britain, because of its hybrid parentage between the cork oak and the Turkey oak this tree is potentially a good source of cork for Britain. There are a number of named forms. 'Diversifolia' has a bark that is more corky than the type. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.
Propagation
Seed loses viability quickly if allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter, but is best sown as soon as it is 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, they should be moved to their permanent positions as soon as possible — trees sown in situ produce the best results. Do not leave trees in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons, as they transplant very poorly after that point. Note that this is a cultivar and will not breed true from seed.
Other Uses
The bark is a source of cork suitable for heat and sound insulation, flooring, and floats. It is harvested every 6–12 years by carefully removing it without harming the tree. A mulch of the leaves repels slugs and grubs, though fresh leaves should not be used as they can inhibit plant growth. Oak galls are caused by the larvae of various insects living inside the growths; once the insect pupates and leaves, the gall provides a rich source of tannin that can also be used as a dyestuff.
Notes
There are about 600 Quercus species.
Synonyms
References (3)
- Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1124
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Sfikas, G., 1984, Trees and shrubs of Greece. Efstathiadis Group. Athens. p 152
