Quercus libani
Encyclopedia
Quercus libani, the Lebanon Oak, is a species of oak
native to the eastern Mediterranean in Western Asia, including in Lebanon
, eastern Turkey
, and northern Iraq
and Iran
.
tree growing to 8 metres (26.2 ft). 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.
The flowers are monoecious but flowers from both sexes can be found on the same tree and are pollinated by wind. The tree produces acorn
s that grow to about 2 cm to 3.5 cm in diameter. Its length is half covered by the cupule
.
Food
The Quercus libani acorns are very bitter due to high concentrations of tannins
, this bitter taste can be leach
ed 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.
Medicinal
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
. Tannin from the galls are also used as dye
.
projects. It is successful in drought tolerant landscape gardens. The Lebanon oak can grow in medium loamy to heavy clay soils, with no preference to soil acidity. The tree can be grown in direct sunlight to semi-shade. It can endure strong winds, but not salty maritime exposures.
The Lebanon oak does not tolerate root disturbance well, therefore landscape trees should not be moved once planted, or transplanted from native habitat
s. Acorns sown in situ will actually 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 form rodents until planting.
of the Lebanon oak is used as an biological pest control
—herbivore insect repellent for protecting other plants. It's 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.
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
native to the eastern Mediterranean in Western Asia, including in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, and northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.
Description
Quercus libani is a deciduousDeciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
tree growing to 8 metres (26.2 ft). 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.
The flowers are monoecious but flowers from both sexes can be found on the same tree and are pollinated by wind. The tree produces acorn
Acorn
The acorn, or oak nut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives . It usually contains a single seed , enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns vary from 1–6 cm long and 0.8–4 cm broad...
s that grow to about 2 cm to 3.5 cm in diameter. Its length is half covered by the cupule
Cupule
The calybium and the cupule make up the accessory fruit of flowering plants in the family Fagaceae. These two parts derive from different flower components....
.
Uses
Lebanon oak wood is very hard and resistant to insect and fungal attack and is used in construction works.Food
The Quercus libani acorns are very bitter due to high concentrations of tannins
Tannin
A tannin is an astringent, bitter plant polyphenolic compound that binds to and precipitates proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids.The term tannin refers to the use of...
, this bitter taste can be leach
Leach
Leach may refer to:Placenames* Leach, Oklahoma in the United StatesSurnames* Al Leach* Archie Leach, real name of actor Cary Grant* Ben Leach, player in Liverpool-based pop group The Farm* Bernard Leach , British potter* Bobby Leach...
ed 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.
Medicinal
Galls produced by the larvae
Larvae
In Roman mythology, lemures were shades or spirits of the restless or malignant dead, and are probably cognate with an extended sense of larvae as disturbing or frightening...
of different insects that may be found on the trees have especially high tannin concentrations, are highly astringent
Astringent
An astringent substance is a chemical compound that tends to shrink or constrict body tissues, usually locally after topical medicinal application. The word "astringent" derives from Latin adstringere, meaning "to bind fast"...
and were used in the treatment of haemorrhage and diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
. Tannin from the galls are also used as dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
.
Ornamental tree
Quercus libani is cultivated and planted as an ornamental tree in gardens, parks, and habitat restorationRestoration ecology
-Definition:Restoration ecology is the scientific study and practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human intervention and action, within a short time frame...
projects. It is successful in drought tolerant landscape gardens. The Lebanon oak can grow in medium loamy to heavy clay soils, with no preference to soil acidity. The tree can be grown in direct sunlight to semi-shade. It can endure strong winds, but not salty maritime exposures.
The Lebanon oak does not tolerate root disturbance well, therefore landscape trees should not be moved once planted, or transplanted from native habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s. Acorns sown in situ will actually 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 form rodents until planting.
Biological pest control
The leaf litterPlant litter
Plant litter, leaf litter or tree litter is dead plant material, such as leaves, bark, needles, and twigs, that has fallen to the ground. Litter provides habitat for small animals, fungi, and plants, and the material may be used to construct nests. As litter decomposes, nutrients are released to...
of the Lebanon oak is used as an biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
—herbivore insect repellent for protecting other plants. It's leaves placed as a mulch
Mulch
In agriculture and gardening, is a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growth and seed germination. Mulching in gardens and landscaping mimics the leaf cover that is found on forest floors....
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.