Quercus libani, the Lebanon oak, is a species of oak native to the eastern Mediterranean in western Asia, including in Lebanon, western Syria, northeastern Israel, eastern Turkey, and northern Iraq and Iran.
Quercus libani is a deciduous tree growing to 8 metres (26 feet).[3] The deciduous leaf is slender, elongated and often asymmetrical, its base is round and its tip is slightly pointed. In the adult state the leaf's upper side is dark green and the under side is pale green.[4]
The flowers are monoecious, meaning that flowers from both sexes can be found on the same tree. They are pollinated by wind. The tree produces acorns that grow to about 2 to 3.6 centimetres (3⁄4 to 1+3⁄8 inches) in diameter.[3] Its length is half covered by the cupule.[4]
Quercus libani leaves.Lebanon oak's green acorns with spiny cupule.
Habitatedit
The Lebanon oak can grow in medium loamy to heavy clay soils, with no preference to soil acidity. The tree can grow in direct sunlight to semi-shade. It can endure strong winds, but not salty maritime exposures.
The tree does not tolerate root disturbance well, therefore landscape trees should not be moved once planted, or transplanted from native habitats. Acorns sown in situ will produce the best trees, in growth rate and deep rooted drought tolerance. The acorns are sown as they ripen. Acorns lose their viability if they dry out, and so need to be kept in a moist and cool place away from rodents until planting.[3]
Biological pest controledit
The leaf litter of the Lebanon oak is used as a biological pest control—herbivore insect repellent for protecting other plants. Its leaves placed as a mulch layer around vulnerable plants effectively repels snails, slugs, and grubs. Fresh leaves can inhibit plant growth, and so are not used directly from the tree. Being deciduous, much beneficial leaf litter is produced in the autumn.[5]
Usesedit
Lebanon oak wood is very hard and resistant to insect and fungal attack and is used in construction.
Foodedit
The acorns are very bitter due to high concentrations of tannins. This bitter taste can be leached out by washing the acorns in running water, but this causes the loss of many beneficial minerals.
The acorns can be dried and ground it into a powder and used to thicken stews and may be mixed with cereals for making bread. The roasted bitter acorns may be used as a coffee substitute.[3]
Medicinaledit
Galls produced by the larvae of different insects that may be found on the trees have especially high tannin concentrations, are highly astringent and were used in the treatment of haemorrhage and diarrhea.[3] Tannin from the galls are also used as dye.[6]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus libani.
^ abSeigue, Alexandre (1985). La forêt circumméditerranéenne et ses problèmes. Techniques agricoles et productions méditerranéennes (in French). Vol. 5. Maisonneuve & Larose. pp. 119 / 502. ISBN9782706808975.
^Riotte, L (1978). Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Vermont, USA: Garden way. ISBN0-88266-064-0.
quercus, libani, lebanon, species, native, eastern, mediterranean, western, asia, including, lebanon, western, syria, northeastern, israel, eastern, turkey, northern, iraq, iran, lebanon, scientific, classification, kingdom, plantae, clade, tracheophytes, clad. Quercus libani the Lebanon oak is a species of oak native to the eastern Mediterranean in western Asia including in Lebanon western Syria northeastern Israel eastern Turkey and northern Iraq and Iran Lebanon oak Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Rosids Order Fagales Family Fagaceae Genus Quercus Subgenus Quercus subg Cerris Section Quercus sect Cerris Species Q libani Binomial name Quercus libaniG Olivier 1 Synonyms 2 List Quercus apiculata Djav KhoieQuercus carduchorum K KochQuercus hedjazii Djav KhoieQuercus irregularis Djav KhoieQuercus karduchorum K Koch ex DippelQuercus magnosquamata Djav KhoieQuercus ophiosquamata Djav KhoieQuercus ovicarpa Djav KhoieQuercus polynervata Djav KhoieQuercus regia Lindl Quercus scalaridentata Djav KhoieQuercus serratifolia Benth ex Petzh amp G Kirchn Quercus squarrosa Kotschy ex A DC Quercus subcordata Djav KhoieQuercus tchihatchewii Kotschy ex A DC Quercus tregubovii Djav KhoieQuercus vesca Kotschy Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Cultivation 3 1 Ornamental tree 3 2 Biological pest control 4 Uses 4 1 Food 4 2 Medicinal 5 ReferencesDescription editQuercus libani is a deciduous tree growing to 8 metres 26 feet 3 The deciduous leaf is slender elongated and often asymmetrical its base is round and its tip is slightly pointed In the adult state the leaf s upper side is dark green and the under side is pale green 4 The flowers are monoecious meaning that flowers from both sexes can be found on the same tree They are pollinated by wind The tree produces acorns that grow to about 2 to 3 6 centimetres 3 4 to 1 3 8 inches in diameter 3 Its length is half covered by the cupule 4 nbsp Quercus libani leaves nbsp Lebanon oak s green acorns with spiny cupule Habitat editThe Lebanon oak can grow in medium loamy to heavy clay soils with no preference to soil acidity The tree can grow in direct sunlight to semi shade It can endure strong winds but not salty maritime exposures Cultivation edit nbsp Lebanon oak s ripe acorns Ornamental tree edit Quercus libani is cultivated and planted as an ornamental tree in gardens parks and habitat restoration projects It is successful in drought tolerant landscape gardens The tree does not tolerate root disturbance well therefore landscape trees should not be moved once planted or transplanted from native habitats Acorns sown in situ will produce the best trees in growth rate and deep rooted drought tolerance The acorns are sown as they ripen Acorns lose their viability if they dry out and so need to be kept in a moist and cool place away from rodents until planting 3 Biological pest control edit The leaf litter of the Lebanon oak is used as a biological pest control herbivore insect repellent for protecting other plants Its leaves placed as a mulch layer around vulnerable plants effectively repels snails slugs and grubs Fresh leaves can inhibit plant growth and so are not used directly from the tree Being deciduous much beneficial leaf litter is produced in the autumn 5 Uses editLebanon oak wood is very hard and resistant to insect and fungal attack and is used in construction Food edit The acorns are very bitter due to high concentrations of tannins This bitter taste can be leached out by washing the acorns in running water but this causes the loss of many beneficial minerals The acorns can be dried and ground it into a powder and used to thicken stews and may be mixed with cereals for making bread The roasted bitter acorns may be used as a coffee substitute 3 Medicinal edit Galls produced by the larvae of different insects that may be found on the trees have especially high tannin concentrations are highly astringent and were used in the treatment of haemorrhage and diarrhea 3 Tannin from the galls are also used as dye 6 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quercus libani Quercus libani Olivier Tropicos Missouri Botanical Garden Quercus libani G Olivier World Checklist of Selected Plant Families Royal Botanic Gardens Kew via The Plant List Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online a b c d e Quercus libani Plants for a Future Retrieved 2009 09 24 a b Seigue Alexandre 1985 La foret circummediterraneenne et ses problemes Techniques agricoles et productions mediterraneennes in French Vol 5 Maisonneuve amp Larose pp 119 502 ISBN 9782706808975 Riotte L 1978 Companion Planting for Successful Gardening Vermont USA Garden way ISBN 0 88266 064 0 Grieve 1984 A Modern Herbal Penguin ISBN 0 14 046440 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Quercus libani amp oldid 1125195114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
