Quercus infectoria

Quercus infectoria or the Aleppo oak is a species of oak well known for producing galls (called manjakani in Malaysia, majuphal in India) that have been traditionally used for centuries in Asia medicinally while also used in softening leather and in making black dye and ink.

Description

A shrub or small tree. It grows 3 m tall and spreads 3 m wide. The bark is grey and scaly and deeply cracked. The leaves are waxy and have teeth with spines. The leaves are almost smooth. They do not have lobes. The fruit are acorns held in shallow scaly cups.

Edible Uses

The seeds are cooked before eating. They can be dried, ground into a powder, and used as a thickening 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 also removes many minerals. Either whole seeds or dried ground powder can be used. Leaching whole seeds can take several days or even weeks; placing them in a cloth bag in a running stream is one traditional method. Grinding to powder speeds the process, and a simple taste test shows 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 their astringency had largely faded. Roasted seeds serve as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are used as a coffee drink. They are also eaten raw or cooked.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

The bark and acorns are astringent and used in the treatment of intertrigo, impetigo, and eczema. 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 suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Cyprus, Europe, Greece, India, Iraq, Kurdistan, Mediterranean, Middle East, Turkey, Türkiye,

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. 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

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.

Other Uses

An ink is made from the tannin-rich galls. These galls are caused by the activity of the Cynipid fly Cynips tinctoria and contain 36–58% tannin. To make the ink, an extract of the galls is mixed with ferrous sulphate together with a gum and colouring agent. Whether the galls are used before or after the insect has left them is not certain.

Notes

There are about 600 Quercus species.

Also Known As

Akgobak, Akmeşe, Akpıynar, Balute, Bellot, Dara bero, Machakai, Machikai, Machikaya, Majakani, Majuphal, Mashikai, Mazi mesesi, Mazu, Muphal

References (10)

• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 509
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 32
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1125
• Demir, I. & Ayaz, N., 2022, Wild edible plants contributing to the traditional foods of Mardin (Turkey) Province. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge Vol 21(3), July 2022, pp 569-582
• Ertug, F, Yenen Bitkiler. Resimli Türkiye Florası -I- Flora of Turkey - Ethnobotany supplement

More from Fagaceae

Castanopsis carlesii

Lesser red castanopsis

Castanopsis ceratacantha

Wa shan zhui

Castanopsis chinensis

Chinese castanopsis

Castanopsis clarkei

Castanopsis concinna

Castanopsis costata

Berangan duri