Quercus suber.
Quercus suber is the scientific name for the cork oak, a remarkable tree. Unlike the aforementioned Eucalyptus, the cork oak is native to southwest Europe (and northwest Africa). Interestingly, both trees are classified as pyrophytes, plants that are adapted to tolerate and resist fire. But while the Eucalyptus is considered an active pyrophyte that promotes the spread of forest fires through the production of inflammable oils, the cork oak is a passive pyrophyte that resists the passage of fire through its thick and insulating bark (cork). The canopy burns, but the trunk doesn’t and the tree quickly regenerates. If the tree doesn’t burn, every 7-10 years cork can be extracted in a process that doesn’t harm the tree and will promote the regrowth of a new layer of cork. Cork extraction is a sustainable practice and cork oak forests, minimally intervened for cork extraction purposes every decade or so, support unique and rich ecosystems.
This photo shows a relatively young oak tree from which cork has been recently extracted for the first time (this is called “virgin” cork and is of less quality than the one obtained in subsequent extractions). Below, the bark layer left after cork extraction that is of a gorgeous russet colour, and above it the cork of the upper trunk and branches that has been left.
All I have to say is WOW! Click for full size!
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It just occurred to me to wonder — cork is a natural product, and so could be prone to produce allergic reactions in some subset of people. Are there folks who can’t drink wine because it has been in contact with cork?
If so, does anyone maintain a list of wineries that use artificial materials (screw caps or plastic “corks”)?
I’ve never seen any such information on wine labels. Maybe cork is non-allergenic?
I have heard of a wide range of, often-times, weird allergies but never one to cork but there is probably someone somewhere out there who is allergic to it.
OTOH, a cork in a bottle is, hopefully, unlikely to provide enough “whatever” to the wine to be a problem. Just don’t drink corked wine and do not eat the cork.
Wonderfully craggy.
A stunning photo. I was just WOW when I opened it to post today.
Wonderful bark texture and trees.
We actually have some of them growing locally -planted exotics and thankfully NOT weedy! -- here in Adelaide both in the plains and hills including in Belair National Park. I’ve even collected and planted acorns from them without having any luck in getting them to germinate. (If anyone here has any tips on how to propagate them that’d be awesome!)
Didn’t know about the bark underneath being that orange colour either or about the fire adaptation with the resistance of the bark though that makes a lot of sense and fits the ecology of the Mediterranean region they come from which is similar in many ways to ours in southern South Oz. Something new learnt today -- cheers! :-)
What a gorgeous shot. Sometimes perspective is all you need to turn a usual pic into an unusual one. And your trousers into dirty laundry.
I loved the cork forrests of the serra de monchique. They are such beautiful trees with a very distinct smell. I really need to travel there again.
The shot is great, I love it!
I do have an anecdote for that place. In those fateful holidays we stayed in Sagres, which was a nice and quiet place. One day, my parents decided to visit the Serra de Monchique and my mother made me put on warm clothing because “we’re going to the mountains”. No amount of ice cream could make up for that, mostly because it was over 40°C and ice cream melted faster than I could eat it in long trousers and a long sleeved shirt, stockings and boots.
Thanks everyone! I was trying to go for a different perspective here, there are many photos around of cork oaks with their cork extracted but I thought capturing the discontinuity from a different angle could be interesting.
DonDueed and jrkrideau,
I’ve never heard of cork allergy either and nowadays we are basically making everything out of cork, including shoes, umbrellas, purses (I have one) and even cell phone cases. I think I heard somewhere that cork is hypoallergenic but I can’t remember the source.
StevoR, I’m sorry, I have no idea what the best way to propagate them is! They grow spontaneously all over the place here, so it should be possible from acorns. They are a protected species here, if someone wants to cut down a cork oak in their property they need to get an authorization first or they risk fines. Anyway, I have a botanist friend that may have some tips, I’ll try to remember asking him and if he does I’ll pass them on to you on TNET.
Giliell
True! Also, sometimes, to turn yourself into a tick host. But that’s a different story…
What an interesting tree and an interesting perspective. Your time of day for shooting also seems spot on. Great artsitic choices.
What an interesting tree shown in interesting perspective. Your time of day for shooting also seems spot on. Great artsitic choices.