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Quercus_infectoria - Olivier.

Common Name Aleppo Oak, Oak
Family Fagaceae
USDA hardiness 6-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. Europe - E. Mediterranean.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Quercus_infectoria Aleppo Oak, Oak


http://www.flickr.com/people/13599235@N04
Quercus_infectoria Aleppo Oak, Oak
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Gidip

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Quercus_infectoria is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The bark and acorns are astringent[240]. They are used in the treatment of intertrigo, impetigo and eczema[240]. Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

An ink is made from the tannin-rich galls[171]. The galls are caused by the activity of the Cynipid fly Cynips tinctoria[223]. The galls contain 36 - 58% tannin[223]. An extract of the galls is mixed with ferrous sulphate together with a gum and colouring in order to make the ink[171]. We are not sure if the galls are meant to be used before or after the insect has left them[K].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Specimen. Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[1, 11]. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[200]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[200]. 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[200]. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young[11]. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features:Not North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is 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, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[11]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Quercus infectoriaAleppo Oak, OakShrub1.8 6-8 MMHSNM221

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Olivier.

Botanical References

1150200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Brian Lamb   Wed Mar 7 2007

This is also called the Cyprus oak. It grows to a large tree there with very large acorns.

Giorgos   Mon Jul 7 2008

i am from cyprus and i am making a research on this plant. if anyone interested just let me know

Dr.Nedu   Mon Nov 10 2008

Dear Giorgos, I am also starting my research on this plant. Perhaps we can communicate via e-mail for the mutual benefit. Contact me at [email protected]. Regards, Dr.Nedu Malaysi

Dr. Saleem   Tue Feb 17 2009

I am working to know the effect of quercus infectoria on the estrus cycle of buffalo

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