Oak tree? jagged
1. Title
English oak habitat medicine
Russian names: summer oak (common, English), stezhar, nelin (about an oak tree that has not shed its autumn plumage).
Names in other languages: Lat. quercus robur L., white oak vyvychaina, letnik, ukr. oak, summer, petiolate, floor. d№b, Czech. dub, Serbian oak, rast, khrast, srch, strzh, luz. dub, Bulgarian miner, mining tree, Latvian. ohsole, est. tam, Finnish tammi, German der Eiche, fr. le chkne, English. the oak.
Etymology of the name
Generic name Lat. Quercus - oak, etymology is not fully understood. Perhaps the word comes from Celts. quer - beautiful + cues - tree, or from ancient Greek. ??????? - to be rough, which characterizes the bark of a tree. Specific epithet lat. r ?bur - oak, oak wood - the ancient Latin name for oak.
The Russian epithet petiolate is given because of the acorns sitting in a cup-plus, equipped with a stalk.
Story
Oak in many Indo-European traditions is a sacred tree, a heavenly gate through which a deity can appear before people, the home of a god or gods. The oak is dedicated to Perkunas (apparently also to Perun), Thor, Zeus, Jupiter and other thunderers; An oak tree broken by lightning was considered unkind in some traditions, while in others (for example, in Lithuania), on the contrary, it was considered a favorable sign. Oak sometimes acts as an image of a tree on which a deity (often solar) deprived of productive powers is crucified, who, however, is destined to be reborn. A special role in mythology is played by the image of an oak tree entwined with the “golden branch” of mistletoe. The oak log was also considered sacred; with its help the eternal flame was maintained in the temple of Vesta; he was ritually burned in midsummer, comparing this action with depriving the fertility deity of his male power. At the same time, the burning of logs was also considered as an act leading to the resurrection of the spirit of fertility (characteristic in this regard is the widespread use of oak ash in folk medicine). The oak club as a weapon of the thunderer or sun god symbolized the firmness of power and severity. Wreath of oak leaves referred to the idea of strength, power, dignity. The most important rituals (sacrifices, trials, oaths, etc.) were performed near the oak tree, revered as a royal tree, and holidays were held. In the biblical tradition, oak (along with cedar) is a symbol of pride and arrogance; Abimelah becomes king by the oak tree, Saul sits under the oak tree, Deborah is buried under the oak tree, Jacob buries foreign gods under the oak tree, Absalom meets his end on the oak tree. For Christians, oak is the emblem of Christ (according to some versions of Christian tradition, the crucifixion cross was made of oak).
IN Ancient Greece the center of the sanctuary of Zeus in Dodona was an old oak, under which the source was located. The oracle interpreted the rustling of oak leaves, and later predicted events by the clinking of vessels that were struck with a flexible oak branch. A special winged oak tree was also dedicated to Zeus, on which a blanket with images of the earth, ocean and stars was thrown.
In Athens, a boy who pronounced the marriage formula during the Eleusinian mysteries was crowned with oak leaves and thorns (in Rome, oak branches were carried in marriage processions, seeing them as a symbol of fertility). According to some versions, the mast of the Argonauts' ship was made of oak. Philemon and Baucis were posthumously transformed into oak and linden by the gods. Greek dryads and hamadryads were also “oak” nymphs. Oak played a significant role in the mythopoetic ideas of the Celts. In particular, the hero of folk legends, Merlin, works his magic under the oak tree. In a number of traditions, the origin of the human race was associated with oak.
Oak - “king of the forest”, symbolizes endurance, strength, glory; V Ancient Rome a wreath of oak leaves was the highest reward for a victorious commander. Among the Druids, the oak was the most revered tree; in Christian symbolism, the oak signifies faith and virtue. In Walter Scott Ivanhoe's book, the image of an oak tree with its roots torn out on the shields of the Saxon nobility symbolized the fact that they shared their fate with the common Saxons after the Norman Conquest.
The ancient Slavs carved statues of Perun - the god of thunder and lightning - from oak (it was called the Perun tree). And in front of the carved idol they burned an unquenchable “living fire from an oak tree,” produced by rubbing oak sticks. This fire was renewed annually on Midsummer night. In fact, neither the ancient Greeks and Romans, nor the ancient Germans and Slavs cut down oak trees for fear of angering the thunder gods (as well as the excellent archer - the radiant Apollo). Perhaps this is why the mighty representatives of the oak tribe have survived to this day. In pagan times, the Carpathian Slavs were convinced that oak trees had existed since the creation of the world. Pliny the Elder wrote: "...Oak trees... untouched by centuries, of the same age as the Universe, they amaze with their almost immortal fate, as the greatest miracle of the world." During excavations of Trypillian settlements five thousand years ago, under the ruins of a furnace, imprints of acorns were found in fragments of clay. Apparently, people at that time already knew how to bake bread from acorns.
In Rus', the oak acted as a guardian: oak trees were used to create abatis - chains of fallen trees spread over hundreds of miles. The abatis became an insurmountable obstacle to the movement of Baty's cavalry, and centuries later - German tank divisions.
Oak leaves and acorns
Male oak inflorescences
English oak is a deciduous tree of the beech family (Fagaceae), reaching a height of 50 m. Root system consists of a very long taproot; from the age of 6, lateral roots begin to develop, also going deep into the ground. The crown is dense, tent-like or broadly pyramidal, asymmetrical, spreading, with strong branches and a thick trunk (1.5 m in diameter). In young trees, the trunk is irregular, geniculate, and with age it becomes straight and cylindrical. The bark of old trees (from 50-60 years old) is brown-gray, fissured, up to 10 cm thick; on young trunks and branches it is silver-gray; on young shoots it is smooth, olive-brown. Young shoots are fluffy, brown or reddish-gray, shiny, with brown spots and slightly oblong lenticels.
The buds are obtusely pentagonal, 5 mm long and 4 mm wide, the lateral ones are slightly smaller and spaced apart, the scales are numerous, five-rowed, brown, glabrous and ciliated only along the edge. All buds are usually ovoid, almost spherical, light brown, rounded or bluntly pointed at the apex, leaf scar with 5-7 marks. The apical buds are surrounded for the most part by several lateral ones.
The leaf arrangement is alternate, at the top of the branches in the form of bunches. Leaves are oblong, oblong-obovate, narrowed downwards or heart-shaped, often with ears, obtuse or notched at the apex, pinnately lobed, 80-100 mm long, 25-70 mm wide, with 4-7 lobes, hard, almost leathery , dark green above, shiny, yellowish or green below, with very prominent lighter veins, bare on both sides, with short petioles up to 10 mm long, always falling off in winter.
The blades are blunt, rounded, the notches between them are shallow. Flowers are dioecious. The plant is monoecious. Staminate flowers are collected in long pendulous catkins 20-30 mm long, with 10 or more flowers, 2-3 together or singly on the tops of last year's shoots or at the bottom of young shoots. Each flower sits at a distance from the other, so the peduncle is clearly visible between them; has a 5-7-parted, fringed, membranous, greenish perianth at the edges. Female flowers are usually located on young shoots higher than male ones, collected 2-3 together on a separate reddish stalk, have a six-parted, reddish perianth at the edges, surrounded by green, hairy, reddish scales at the top, representing the future plus.
The ovary is three-lobed, red, the stigma is thread-like, slightly protruding outward. Nests in the ovary are formed only after pollination, three in number, with two eggs in each. Each ovary usually develops only one acorn. Flowering begins in trees between 40 and 60 years old. It blooms in May, the fruits ripen in September. The fruit is a nut (acorn), bare, brownish-brown (1.5-3.5 cm long), on a long (3-8 cm) stalk. The acorn is placed in a saucer or cup-shaped bowl (0.5-1 cm long). Reproduction is by seed; Acorns are carried by birds. English oak begins to bear fruit at the age of 40-60 years. Abundant harvests of acorns are repeated after 4-8 years. Oak lives up to 400-500 years, individual trees - up to 1500-2000 years, reaching 4 m in diameter.
Distribution area
Widely distributed in Western Europe and the European part of Russia, found in northern Africa and western Asia. The northern border of the range is southern Finland, the north of the Leningrad region. In western Norway, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, the habitat boundary reaches the 65th parallel. As it moves east, the habitat boundary shifts south, and it does not live in Siberia at all. Introduced to northeastern North America. Grows in deciduous forests and oak groves. Oak is a heat-loving tree. Often suffers from late spring frosts. It is relatively light-loving, and at a young age, when it grows slowly, it is often drowned out by fast-growing trees (birch, aspen, hornbeam, pine, beech). Therefore, it requires care - clarification by cutting down fast-growing species. It usually grows in fertilized and moist soil, but is also found in fairly dry soils. There are two known forms of common oak - early and late. Early oak leaves bloom in April and fall off for the winter, while late oak leaves bloom two to three weeks later and remain on young plants for the winter.
6. Collection and drying of raw materials
Oak bark is mainly used as a medicinal raw material. It is harvested during sap flow (which coincides with bud opening, April-May), without a cork layer on the outside and wood on the inside. To collect bark, only young trees cut down at logging sites and sanitary fellings can be used. To remove the bark, ring-shaped cuts are made every 30 cm, which are connected with longitudinal cuts, after which the bark is easily removed. Dry it under shelters in the open air or in well-ventilated areas. IN good weather can be dried in the sun. When drying, the bark is turned over and brought indoors in the evening. Before packaging, the bark is tied into bundles, the dried raw materials are examined, and the bark with the remains of wood covered with moss is removed. Dry bark breaks when bent, while under-dried bark bends. It is necessary to ensure that the bark does not become moist during drying, as this will cause it to lose a significant part of the tannins it contains. Dry bark has no odor, but when soaked in water and especially when washed with hot water, a characteristic odor characteristic of fresh bark appears. The taste is very astringent. Store in a dry, well-ventilated area. Shelf life: 5 years.
Oak fruits (acorns) are collected in the fall under the trees after they have fallen. Dry in attics under an iron roof or under sheds with good ventilation, spreading in one layer on paper or fabric and stirring occasionally. They are dried in ovens, ovens or dryers. Acorns are cleaned of leathery fertilization and seed coat. The raw material consists of individual cotyledons. Store in dry, well-ventilated areas. The shelf life has not been established.
Pharmacological properties
Thanks to high content tannins, oak bark has a strong astringent and compacting property of tissue membranes (as a result, their strength increases and permeability decreases), as a result of which it has a bacteriostatic, protistocidal and largely hemostatic effect. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-radiation, anti-hemorrhagic and anti-putrefactive properties. The plant's tannins (tannin) are responsible for the main tanning effect. When applying galenic preparations of oak or tannin to wounds or mucous membranes, interaction with proteins is observed, and a protective film is formed that protects tissues from local irritation. This slows down the inflammation process and reduces pain. All parts of the plant have a disinfectant effect. Antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effects are associated with both gallic acid derivatives and the presence of catechins.
Application in medicine
The bark of young branches and thin trunks is used as an astringent, for rinsing with gingivitis, stomatitis, inflammatory processes of the pharynx, pharynx, larynx and for the treatment of burns. Decoction - for tuberculosis, rickets, has a pronounced deodorizing effect. Ointment - for the treatment of frostbite. English oak infusion - for gastritis and enteritis, stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, colitis, dysentery, cholera.
Lotions - for skin diseases, bedsores; enemas and suppositories - for hemorrhoids and anal fissures; douching - for vaginal diseases and polymenorrhea; baths - for hyperhidrosis. Infusions and decoctions - for frostbite.
As an antidote for poisoning with salts of heavy metals, alkaloids, mushrooms, henbane, dope, foodborne infections and other poisonings, a 20% decoction of oak bark is used for repeated gastric lavages. For burns and frostbite, a 20% decoction of oak bark is also used in the form of applications of napkins moistened with a cold decoction to the affected areas on the first day. For skin diseases and childhood diathesis, a decoction of oak bark is used in the form of general or local baths, washes, and applications; For sweaty feet, local baths of 10% oak bark decoction or oak bark decoction half and half with sage decoction are recommended. At gynecological diseases(colpitis, vulvovaginitis, prolapse of the vaginal walls, prolapse of the vagina and uterus, erosion of the cervix and vaginal walls) douching is prescribed with a 10% decoction. In folk medicine (orally) - for gynecological diseases, heavy menstruation, diarrhea, peptic ulcer stomach, dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases, diseases of the liver and spleen, thyroid gland, rickets, cholera, pyelonephritis; externally - for sweating, for washing bleeding hemorrhoids and purulent wounds, gargling and mouthwash for inflammation, to eliminate unpleasant odor from the mouth, to remove calluses; ointment - for burns and frostbite. Oak bark is included in bath mixtures for scrofula and rickets.
Leaves. Infusion and decoction - with diabetes mellitus. Fresh crushed leaves are applied to ulcers and wounds to heal them. They have an astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect. Juice - for diabetes.
Gauls. Lotions from freshly prepared decoction or powder - for gastrointestinal disorders, burns, purulent wounds, lichen, eczema, skin tuberculosis.
Acorns. Acorn coffee and dry powder - for gastrointestinal diseases, colitis, scrofula, rickets, anemia. It is also useful for nervous patients and for heavy menstrual bleeding. Infusion and decoction - for rickets, anemia, nervous diseases, polymenorrhea, scrofulosis, diabetes. Juice - similar to infusion and decoction.
Dosage forms, method of preparation and dose
Decoction of oak bark (Decoctum corticis Quercus): 20 g (2 tbsp. spoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in a water bath for 30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes at room temperature, filter, the rest the raw materials are squeezed out, the volume of the resulting decoction is adjusted to 200 ml with boiled water. The prepared broth is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Used for rinsing - 8 times a day as an astringent and anti-inflammatory agent for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa, pharynx, pharynx, larynx, gingivitis, stomatitis.
Oak decoction (externally): 1. 1 tbsp. spoon of raw materials (leaves and bark) per 1 glass of water, boil for 1-3 minutes, strain.
40 g of bark is poured into 250 ml of water, boiled for 30 minutes, left for 2 hours. Used in the form of lotions, enemas, baths, rinses.
Infusion of oak bark: 10 g of raw material is infused in 400 ml of chilled boiled water for 6 hours, then filtered. Take ½ glass 3-4 times a day before meals. Used for bedwetting. An infusion of bark and leaves (orally and for douching) is prescribed for gynecological diseases: uterine bleeding, pain during menstruation, inflammation of the female genital organs, trichomoniasis. Baths, douching, tampons from the infusion are recommended for cervical erosion.
Oak infusion (tea): 1 teaspoon of raw material per 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours in a warm place, strain, take 0.5 cup 3 times a day before meals. Drinking more than 2 glasses of tea per day is not recommended.
Oak leaf juice: squeezed from fresh leaves collected immediately after flowering. Take ½-1 teaspoon of juice with honey (1:1), diluted in warm water, 3 times a day.
Oak acorn juice: squeezed from green acorns. Take 1-3 tbsp. spoons with honey (1:1) on an empty stomach 3-5 times a day.
Oak bark ointment: 2 parts oak bark powder, 1 part black poplar buds mixed with 7 parts butter, keep in a warm oven for 12 hours, then cook over low heat or a water bath for 30 minutes, filter.
Coffee made from acorns: peel the acorns and then chop them into large pieces. After this, fry until browned. Let cool and grind into powder. It is brewed like coffee and used as a nutritional supplement, and is also given to children for cardiovascular and cardiovascular diseases. nervous systems.
Powder from dried galls or fresh galls: lubricate eczema, lichen, burns.
Some recipes
?Dysentery, ulcerative colitis, hemorrhoids. Enemas are made with a strong infusion (1 teaspoon per 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour or more).
?Sweaty feet. Wash in bark decoction (2 tablespoons per 1 glass of water, boil for 1-2 minutes, leave until cooled), crushed bark is poured into socks for the day. You can make baths from the decoction.
?Decoction oak bark treat goiter (make lotions for goiter tumor).
?Acne on the skin of the face. 1 tbsp. pour a spoonful of bark with a glass of water and boil for 10-15 minutes. Cool, strain and add vodka in a ratio of 1 part broth and 2 parts vodka. Wipe your face with this lotion.
? Inflammatory processes and bleeding gums. Prepare a mixture of equal parts of oak bark and linden flowers. 2 tbsp. spoons of medicinal raw materials pour 1 cup of boiling water and boil for 2-3 minutes. Let it brew for 20 minutes, strain. Use for rinsing.
Contraindications
Avoid overdose, because may cause vomiting. A decrease in the sense of smell may occur with frequent and prolonged rinsing of the mouth with oak decoction.
13. Application in other areas
It is used for afforestation of mountain slopes and in protective plantings. Oak can be planted along irrigation canals, since its root system does not drain the walls of the canals and does not destroy their covering.
Wood is used in shipbuilding, for various buildings, crafts, sleepers, parquet, in furniture and cooperage production. Waste - for the production of tanning extracts. Tannins contained in oak wood give drinks a unique taste and aroma.
Powder from the bark of young branches and thin trunks in veterinary medicine - for sprinkling wounds, decoctions and mixtures - as an astringent and antiputrefactive agent for dyspepsia, gastritis and enteritis in farm animals, for bloody urine and poisoning poisonous plants, in the form of infusions and decoctions - as an anti-inflammatory agent for burns and frostbite.
Good tanning agent for hard leathers. Oak leaves contain the pigment quercetin, which, depending on the concentration, dyes wool and felted products yellow, green, greenish-yellow, brown and black. Food for oak silkworms. The leaves are used as a spicy and aromatic addition when pickling cucumbers. The galls are suitable for making black ink, gray and brown dyes, and for tanning sole leather.
Acorns in veterinary medicine - as an astringent and anti-putrefactive agent; orally in the form of powders, porridges and mixtures - for gastritis and enteritis. Acorns are a substitute for coffee; peeled - to obtain starch and flour. Feed for pigs, large cattle, horses, geese and wild animals. After a long stay in water, the oak becomes “stained”, has a black color, but does not lose its strength. In beekeeping it is important mainly as a pollen bearer, but in some years, with a favorable combination of meteorological factors, it produces nectar and is then visited in abundance by bees. However, honeydew often appears on oak trees, from which bees produce honeydew honey, which is of low quality and unsuitable for wintering.
Cultivation
Oak acorns, unlike the seeds of the vast majority of our other trees, do not remain viable when dried and stored for a long time at room temperature. Therefore, it is necessary either to sow them in the fall before snow falls and the soil freezes, or to provide them with special storage conditions. Autumn sowing is the simplest, but there is a serious risk of damage to some of the acorns by rodents.
For spring sowing, acorns must be properly preserved. The best storage conditions are created at low (about 0°C or slightly higher) temperature, high humidity and moderate ventilation. Acorns can be stored in the basement, which preserves potatoes well in winter; You can also bury them in the fall into the soil to a depth of at least 20 cm, covering the top with a sheet of waterproof material, leaving a layer of air between this sheet and the acorns and providing protection from mice. Healthy acorns without external damage should be stored for winter storage, preferably collected in dry weather and dried at room temperature for a week. Any special preparation of seeds that have survived the winter before sowing is not required.
Before sowing, evaluate the quality of the acorns by opening several of them. Living acorns have yellow cotyledons, and at the point where they connect to each other there is a living (yellow or red-yellow) embryo. Dead acorns are black or gray inside. By external signs It is not always possible to distinguish living acorns from dead ones. Soaking acorns in a container of water gives good results - dead acorns mostly float, live ones mostly sink (if there are a lot of acorns, then this method of separating the dead from the living can be recommended, but a small part of the living acorns will be lost).
If you were unable to stock up on acorns in the fall, then in some years (after a large harvest of acorns and in the event of a “failure” of mice, and if the winter was not very frosty) you can collect live and germinating acorns in the spring in the nearest forest or park. It is necessary to collect sprouting acorns early in the spring, almost immediately after the snow melts, otherwise you will find damaged roots in many acorns. The collected acorns must either be sown immediately or stored until sowing in such a way that the roots do not dry out (for example, mixed with wet leaves in a plastic box placed in a refrigerator or cold basement). Even during short-term storage, care must be taken to ensure that germinating acorns do not become moldy (throw away damaged ones immediately), and ensure their ventilation. The faster you can sow the acorns collected in the spring, the more of them will be able to develop into seedlings.
When sowing acorns, mark parallel furrows on the bed at a distance of 15-25 cm from each other. Place acorns in the furrows at the rate of 15-50 pieces. per 1 m of furrow length, depending on the quality and size (if the acorns are large and almost all are alive, then they should be laid out less frequently, if they are small and with a large proportion of dead and doubtful ones, they should be placed more densely). If you plan to plant annual oak seedlings in a permanent place, then acorns should be sown even less often - at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other (this will ensure maximum growth of each tree). Press the acorns into the bottom of the furrow so that they are at a depth of 2-3 cm relative to the soil surface when spring planting and 3-6 cm - in autumn. After this, level the furrow by covering the acorns with soil.
Acorns take a very long time to germinate. First, they develop a powerful root, reaching a length of several tens of centimeters, and only after that the stem begins to grow. Therefore, oak sprouts can appear on the soil surface only a month and a half after the start of germination. Do not rush to conclude that your oak trees are dead and dig up the bed with crops (as the experience of novice amateur foresters shows, this happens). If in doubt, try digging up a few acorns. If their roots have grown, then the acorns are alive.
Oak seedlings suffer significantly less from weeds and soil drying out than coniferous tree seedlings (due to the reserve nutrients large roots and leaves immediately develop in the acorn). However, try to always keep the crops free of weeds and provide water during severe drought, especially if you want to produce large seedlings in one year. Stop all additional watering about a month and a half before the time when massive leaf fall begins in your area - this will allow oak seedlings to better prepare for wintering (oak growth that is too late often freezes in winter). In summer, oak seedlings are often affected by powdery mildew, a fungal disease. Powdery mildew is not capable of killing oak seedlings, but can significantly reduce their growth. With strong development powdery mildew(if the white coating covers more than half the area of all leaves) the seedlings can be treated with a 1% solution copper sulfate or a 1% sulfur suspension. Oak seedlings can be grown for two years in one place without transplanting, or they can be transplanted into a “school” in the second year. The second method is preferable, since it allows the formation of a more compact and branched root system, which suffers less when transplanted to a permanent place (in two-year-old seedlings grown without replanting, the length of the main root can be more than a meter, and it is almost impossible to replant them without damaging the root).
Transplanting seedlings into a “school” should be done in the spring, preferably as early as possible, so that the root system damaged during transplantation has time to partially recover before the leaves bloom (it is also important that the soil is still moist during transplantation). When transplanting, cut the main root of each seedling at a distance of 15-20 cm from the place where the acorn was located (in most seedlings, the remains of the acorn are still visible in the second year). This will allow the formation of a more compact root system. You can not cut off the main root, but in this case it will be very difficult to dig up two-year-old seedlings without seriously damaging their root system.
In the “school”, place rows of seedlings at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, and seedlings in a row - at intervals of 12-15 cm. When planting under each seedling, make a hole 20-25 cm deep with a stake or the handle of a shovel (the depth of the hole should be as follows so that when planting a seedling, the place where the acorn is attached is 2-3 cm below the soil surface). Insert the seedlings into the holes (the main root of oak seedlings, unlike the roots of conifers, is hard and straight and is inserted into the holes without problems). Then fill the holes with soil and compact it with your hands so that the soil fits more tightly to the roots of the seedlings.
In the first weeks after transplantation, transplanted seedlings suffer greatly from root damage - the leaves bloom quite slowly, and the growth of shoots is relatively small.
However, by mid-summer the normal development of seedlings is restored, and by autumn, as a rule, large seedlings (30-50 cm high) are obtained that are quite suitable for planting in a permanent place. If the size of the seedlings by autumn leaves much to be desired, then only the largest ones can be selected for transplantation, and the rest left in the “school” for another year.
If you are transplanting annual oak seedlings to a permanent location (this is quite possible if planting is done in areas with low grass cover or on plowed soil), then do not cut the main roots of the seedlings - try to preserve as much of their length as possible. The root system of an annual oak seedling is represented mainly by a long and straight taproot with weak and short lateral roots, so for replanting it is enough to make a narrow hole of appropriate depth using a stake or a shovel handle
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Spreading
Naturally grows only in the European part; in the north, the border runs along the line St. Petersburg - Kirov, further east to the Urals, from where, without crossing the Urals, it turns south in the direction of Orenburg - Saratov - Volgograd, then turns west in the direction of Novocherkassk - the mouth of the Dnieper River. In the southeastern dry steppes, English oak is absent and appears again in the foothills of the Northern Crimea and the Northern Caucasus. In forest plantations it is often found in the European part, in field protection forest strips and green spaces. It is cultivated in the south of Western Siberia and Central Asia.
Tree
A large tree, up to 40 m high. In maturity, the trunk diameter reaches 1–1.5 m. In plantations it forms well-cleaned trunks with an ovoid or cylindrical crown raised high above the ground. When standing freely, it is characterized by a large number of branches and strong camber. The crown in this case is powerful, dense, broadly tent-shaped. The shoots are gray, brown or reddish-brown, glabrous with numerous lenticels, the core is five-rayed. The bark of young trees is thin, and under favorable habitat conditions, shiny - with a mirror surface. By old age, a thick crust forms, especially in the butt part of the tree. Its thickness reaches 10 cm and deep cracks form on it. The buds are ovoid, bluntly pentagonal, blunt at the end; the apical buds are usually surrounded by several lateral buds. It blooms simultaneously with the leaves blooming in the central regions in mid-May. Leaves with 4–7 rounded lobes, asymmetrical, short-petiolate, rounded or notched at the apex, shiny on the upper side, without pubescence. The venation of the leaves is completely pinnate. The trees are monoecious, but dioecious. Male flowers are yellow-green, collected in inflorescences in the form of an earring 30–40 mm long on the tops of last year's shoots or the lower part of young shoots. Female flowers are located on young shoots, usually higher than male flowers, and they sit on reddish stalks. Pollinated by wind. Male inflorescences are laid and begin to form mainly in mid-summer, early autumn, in the year preceding flowering; female ones form in early spring, when the air temperature sometimes drops below 0 °C and night frosts are possible. The harvest of acorns, therefore, depends primarily on the environmental conditions with which the formation of male and female flowers is associated. The fruits (acorns) often hang in pairs on a petiole (hence the name of the species), the embryo consists of two easily separated cotyledons and buds between them. Acorns are 20–40 mm long, greenish-brown with brown, not always clearly visible, stripes. The lower part of the acorn is enclosed in a scaly brown cup called the plus. The plus covers the acorn up to 73 times its length. On a long fruiting stalk (5–8 cm) 1–5 (usually 2) acorns are collected. The scales on the pluses are fused and arranged in a tiled pattern. Acorns ripen in early autumn at the end of September or early October. Harvest years are repeated every 4-5 years. The pedunculate oak has a powerful root system - a deep tap root, from which first-order lateral roots extend at different angles, which then branch into second-order roots. This root system gives the oak the opportunity to use soil moisture and nutrients from a considerable depth and grow satisfactorily in fairly dry and relatively poor soils. Thanks to its root system, pedunculate oak is highly wind-resistant and drought-resistant, and can tolerate even severe droughts and high summer temperatures of up to 40–41 °C. Tolerates temporary flooding for up to 20 days, but does not tolerate constant excessive soil moisture. Frost-resistant. It is demanding on soils, but can grow on poor rocky and even slightly saline soils. In such conditions, it forms unproductive plantings and often produces shrub-type plants or low, twisted trees. In the first 5–7 years, oak grows slowly; at the age of 8–10 years, height growth increases to 50 cm per year, and in the presence of suitable conditions and favorable conditions soil conditions (deep fertile fresh soils) - up to 1–1.5 m per year. In the first years, the trunk is uneven, rich in dormant buds, and when exposed to light or in strong shade, it becomes covered with numerous watery shoots. Therefore, foresters, wanting to grow a straight-trunk planting, grow oak at a young age with adjustment. English oak is one of the most durable species. Trees 400–500 years old are not uncommon. There is information about oaks that have reached the age of 1,000 and 1,500 years. The oak reproduces by seeds and is abundantly renewed by shoots from the stump. Oak retains its growth capacity for up to 100 years. Artificially propagated by seeds. Sowing acorns in autumn and spring (with preliminary stratification) gives good results. English oak is highly variable. There are varieties that differ in the length of the stalks, pubescence, shape and size of leaves, acorns, crown shape and other characteristics. For forestry and field-protective afforestation, its ecological forms are important - early-blooming and late-blooming.
Wood
Heavy, hard, with big amount medullary rays, the core is brown with a gray-green tint; in a wide part of the spring wood there are sparsely scattered, large vessels. The density of absolutely dry wood is 0.70 g/cm³, at 12% humidity - 0.72 g/cm³.
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English oak, or summer oak, or common oak, or English oak (lat. Quércus róbur) is the type species of the genus Oak (Quercus) of the Beech family (Fagaceae); a large tree reaching a height of 30-40 meters, forming broad-leaved forests (oak groves) in the southern forest and forest-steppe zones.
This species received the specific epithet “petiolate” for its long stalks, which distinguish it from other species.
Reaches a height of 20-40 m. It can live up to 2000 years, but usually lives 300-400 years. Growth in height stops at the age of 100-200 years; growth in thickness, although insignificant, continues throughout life.
Probably the oldest representative should be considered the Stelmuzhi oak with a trunk circumference of 13 m in Lithuania. Its age, according to various estimates, is from 1500 to 2000 years.
The root system consists of a very long taproot; from 6-8 years, lateral roots begin to develop, also going deep into the ground.
The crown is dense, tent-like or wide-pyramidal, asymmetrical, spreading, with strong branches and a thick trunk (1-1.5 m in diameter). In young trees, the trunk is irregular, geniculate, and with age it becomes straight and cylindrical.
The bark is dark gray, blackish, thick. Young oak trees have gray, smooth bark. At 20-30 years of age, more or less deep cracks form on the bark. Trees grown in freedom have bark up to 10 cm thick.
Young shoots are fluffy, brown or reddish-gray, shiny, with brown spots and slightly oblong lenticels.
The buds are obtusely pentagonal, 5 mm long and 4 mm wide, the lateral ones are slightly smaller and spaced apart, the scales are numerous, five-rowed, rounded, brown, glabrous and ciliated only along the edge.
All buds are usually ovoid, almost spherical, light brown, rounded or bluntly pointed at the apex, leaf scar with 7-15 marks. The apical buds are surrounded for the most part by several lateral ones.
Botanical illustration from the book by O. V. Thome “Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz”, 1885
The leaf arrangement is alternate, at the top of the branches in the form of bunches. Leaves are oblong, oblong-obovate, narrowed downwards or heart-shaped, often with ears, obtuse or notched at the apex, pinnate, 40-120 mm long, 25-70 mm wide, with four to seven lobes, hard, almost leathery, on top dark green, shiny, yellowish or green below, with very prominent lighter veins, bare on both sides, with short petioles up to 10 mm long, always falling off in winter. The blades are blunt, rounded, the notches between them are shallow.
Flowers are dioecious. Flowering begins in trees between 40 and 60 years old, along with the blossoming of leaves, usually in May. The plant is monoecious. Staminate flowers are collected in long pendulous catkins 20-30 mm long, with ten or more flowers, 2-3 together or singly on the tops of last year's shoots or at the bottom of young shoots.
Each flower sits far from the other, so a peduncle is clearly visible between them, has a five- or seven-parted, fringed, membranous, greenish perianth along the edges, as well as 5-6 or more stamens with short filaments and large yellow anthers.
Female flowers are usually located on young shoots higher than male ones, collected in small groups of two or three together on a separate reddish stalk, have a six-parted, reddish perianth at the edges, surrounded by green, hairy, reddish scales at the top, representing the future plus.
The ovary is three-lobed, red, the stigma is thread-like, slightly protruding outward. Nests in the ovary are formed only after pollination, three in number, with two eggs in each. Each ovary usually develops only one acorn. Acorns hang in pairs, less often 1-5 on a stalk up to 80 mm long.
The fruit is a nut (acorn), bare, brownish-brown (1.5-3.5 cm long), on a long (3-8 cm) stalk. The acorn is placed in a saucer or cup-shaped bowl (0.5-1 cm long). The fruits ripen in September - October.
There are two known forms of common oak - early and late. Early oak leaves bloom in April and fall off for the winter, while late oak leaves bloom two to three weeks later and remain on young plants for the winter.
Botanical taxonomy:
Quercus robur subsp. brutia (Ten.) O.Schwarz
Quercus robur subsp. imeretina (Steven ex Woronow) Menitsky
Mention of what features should be included in the description of oak? They usually talk and write about structure and reproduction. Let's try to find out more about this wonderful plant, beneficial properties its bark, wood, leaves and acorns.
Favorite of gods and people - oak (tree)
Let's start the description with mythology, because dozens of peoples have revered this tree since ancient times and made up legends about it. Oak is considered one of the most popular on Earth. The ancient Greeks compared its mighty trunk and spreading crown with Zeus, the Romans - with Jupiter. A description of the oak tree would be incomplete without mentioning that among the ancient Slavs the tree personified the Thunder God - Perun.
People of different nationalities and religions treat oak with equal respect and find various uses for its wood, bark, leaves and fruits. It is difficult to say which part of the plant is most popular. A powerful trunk, an extensive root system and a wide crown are associated with power, strength, and longevity. The leathery leaves of the winter subspecies, which remain on the branches until severe frosts, personify unparalleled courage and perseverance.
Durable and solid oak wood is used in construction, furniture industry, and other industries. The bark contains a significant amount of tannins and other useful compounds that are used in the tanning industry, the forest chemical industry, and medicine. Acorns serve as food for numerous forest inhabitants. The population collects fruits for domestic animals and breeding beautiful trees in green areas, making acorn coffee.
At the venerable age of 200-400 years, the height of trees can reach 40-50 m, diameter - 2 m. In different parts of the Earth there are older oak trees that live 700-2000 years. Usually such old specimens are declared natural monuments and taken under protection.
Description of oak
The genus Quercus belongs to the Beech family (Fagaceae). It is represented by almost 600 species of deciduous trees, sometimes shrubs. Oaks are distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, but are more often found in the zone of deciduous forests, forest-steppes and steppes of Eurasia. The most common types: common oak (English, pedunculate), downy, sessile, cork. These are beautiful, long-lasting landscape trees. The Mediterranean flora, including the Caucasus region, has up to 15-18 species of oak trees.
There is still no consensus on the origin Latin name genus Oak (Quercus). The term "quercus" could come from the Greek word "kerkein", meaning "rough" in translation. Indeed, a noticeable feature of trees in old oak groves is their gray bark, covered in deep cracks.
On the territory of Russia, a typical representative is the pedunculate oak (tree). Description: This is a large, tall tree with a well-developed crown. Living trunks at an advanced age are covered with thick gray bark with deep cracks. The branches of young specimens are almost smooth, shiny, gray-brown in color. New shoots with buds are red-brown, covered with gray hairs resembling felt.
There are summer and winter forms, which often grow together, but differ in the timing of blossoming and shedding of foliage, and the flowering period. Experts say that wood of these forms has different economic value. For furniture and parquet, winter oak, as well as bog oak (which has lain under water without access to oxygen), is preferable.
Development of underground organs
Oak is a dicotyledonous plant and has a tap root. A tree densely covered with foliage needs large quantities moisture and nutrients. Oak groves are demanding of soil fertility; they need loose substrates rich in humus and mineral elements. The oak root system can reach a length of 10 m with a crown diameter of 25 m. Thanks to powerful underground organs, trees grow very stable, able to withstand heavy rains and squally winds.
English oak is a light-loving species and grows best when illuminated from the east. In continuous plantings it tolerates side darkening, then lighting is required in the upper part of the crown. The oak leaf grows on a short petiole and is obovate in shape, pinnately lobed. The leaf blade is slightly leathery on top, shiny, dark green in color; the lower surface is light green.
The oak crown is spherical, spreading, if the tree grows on open place. In forests and parks, with strong thickening, the trunk becomes elongated, the branches grow asymmetrically, and become bent. The crown of a freely growing young tree has a beautiful wide pyramidal shape.
Oak is a dioecious, monoecious plant
Loose male inflorescences consist of small, inconspicuous corollas. Drooping catkins appear in April-May, almost simultaneously with the leaves blooming, but only on mature trees. The female flowers are also inconspicuous, they are located singly or several on the peduncle.
Oak serves as a source of cool shade in summer, and its branches are harvested at this time for bath brooms. The leaves are rich in beneficial compounds; their large size allows a lot of healing steam to be pumped into the body, which has antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Description of acorns
The fruits are necessary for the spread of the species, although the oak tree also reproduces vegetatively. IN landscape design, afforestation, and landscaping mainly use the cultivation of seedlings and saplings from acorns. Copper trees produce seeds from the age of 20; abundant fruiting of seed specimens most often occurs by the age of 50-60.
A brown oak fruit with longitudinal and transverse markings, the acorn, is a nut. On top it is covered with a shallow, rough, bowl-shaped plush, arising from the reduced outer parts of the flower. The shape of acorns is oblong, length - up to 3.5 cm. The fruits can have a round shape and reach 1.5 cm in diameter.
Reproduction and cultivation
We will conclude the description of oak with a short review of some of the features of its cultivation.
Most species of this genus begin to bear fruit at a late age (from 15-30 years). The fruits ripen and fall from August to October, then they can be examined more closely. It is interesting that the acorns of one oak tree differ in shades of color, weight, shape, and the nature of the scales on the plus.
The fruits are collected before the snow falls; if they are dark brown with a glossy color, it means they are fully ripe, healthy and capable of germinating. Oak forests are difficult to regenerate seed propagation, because after germination the seedlings grow for a long time and begin to bear fruit very late.
After collecting acorns, they can be germinated in peat pots throughout the winter, and transplanted into soil or a tub in the spring. A bonsai is formed from oak in the room and on the terrace using soft copper wire. It should be applied to the trunk and branches of the tree in the fall, after the leaves have fallen. Bonsai is a popular trend in indoor floriculture and landscape design, but not every amateur is able to correctly form the trunk and crown. It is necessary to properly prune thick branches in winter and cut off green shoots throughout the year.