- Quercus robur
- Europe to Asia Minor
Genus
Quercus is the old Roman name for oak.
A deciduous (but there are also evergreen species), large, mighty, long-lived street, garden, park and forest tree with a strong landscape-shaping effect and overall ecological significance.
Oaks can live to be 1,000 years old; in Germany there are several specimens that are several hundred years old. It is an extensive genus with around 600 species, distributed in Europe, North Africa, Asia, North and South America.
In history and literature, the oak is firmly anchored as an oak of judgment and song; Celts, Goths, Germanic tribes and Romans worshipped it as a tree dedicated to the gods. Germanic tribes dedicated it to the thunder god Donar. The oak was regarded as a symbol of power and strength, the tree of man. The oak leaf wreath was a symbol of power and strength, a sign of victory.
The oak was and is valued as a medicinal plant with tannins and bitter substances. Among other things, it is said to have anti-inflammatory, hemostatic and germicidal properties.
Information on the species
Quercus robur: The species name robur means strength or vigor.
Crown structure: impressive, mighty, gnarled, twisted and regularly spreading; up to 40 meters final height and 35 meters width
Leaves: elongated lobed, short stem base, dark green on the upper side, magnificent autumn coloration
Flowers: monoecious; male flowers: conspicuous with drooping catkins; female flowers: long-stemmed spikes
Fruits: egg-shaped acorns, two to three centimetres long in the base of the fruit cup, with a stalk up to twelve centimetres long (= pedunculate oak); fruits were used as pig feed and coffee substitute; today used as decoration and children's toys
Bark: dark gray, deeply furrowed, used for tanning and bitter extraction as tanning liquor
Properties: winter and urban hardy, resistant to drought
Timber production: Oak wood is unsurpassed as a hardwood with the highest strength and durability, especially for water, bridge and ship building, the construction and furniture industry as well as parquet flooring.