Wednesday, 8 January 2014

Quercus suber


Quercus suber Cork oak

Alcornoque

This evergreen Cork oak is native to the SW Mediterranean and NW Africa and flowers in April and May. It can grow to a height of 20metres. These photographs show the natural colour of the bark after it has been harvested which is done every 9-12 years. The tree has to be at least 25 years old before the bark is harvested for cork. After a fire this tree has the means to regenerate itself from every branch, as the branches are protected by a deep insulating layer of cork. Other trees after fires either die or regenerate from the base. They live for 150-250 years generally.


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