The cork oak:
The cork oak is a medium-sized tree of 10 to 15 meters, it can reach 20 to 25 m, the crown is irregular spreading out in length, the tree has a light canopy allowing light to pass through. In the isolated state the trunk is covered with large spreading branches, when it lives in massive the trunk is straighter and longer. The tree can live up to 500 years.
However, successive cork lifts, with rotations of 9 to 11 years, are possible from 50 to 200 years.
The bark takes on a corky appearance around 5 to 6 years, giving very irregular cracked male cork which reaches an average thickness of 2 to 3 cm between 30 to 40 years. The female cork which develops after stripping is less cracked more homogeneous and more elastic, the latter is exploited after 9 to 12 years.
The cork oak has a tap root system with powerful lateral branches, allowing deep rooting that fixes the tree on light shallow and even rocky soils.
They are polymorphic, leathery and rounded, more or less toothed. Bright green above and pubescent below. They reappear in the spring.
The fruit is an acorn of variable size, it measures 2.5 to 3 cm, elongated brown in color. This fruit is sometimes sweet, its maturity takes place in one year.
The cork oak is monoecious and allogamous, the male flowers hang in filiform catkins at the end of the branches of the year. On the other hand, the female flowers are presented in short catkins which appear on the branches of the year.
Cork oak is a distinctly calcifuge species. It appreciates soils with an acid pH, with few constraints for root penetration, sufficiently drained and with a well-preserved organic horizon.
For temperature, cork oak is a relatively thermophilic species, linked to non-cold variants of humid and sub-humid bioclimates, even semi-arid in the event of water compensation such as the water table or high air humidity. It requires a mild temperature, the optimum of which is between 13°C and 18°C, however frosts of -9°C are harmful to it.
With regard to their requirement in terms of light, it is a heliophilous essence, therefore it requires high exposure. The increase in light causes part of the acorns on the ground to break dormancy and allows more intense photosynthesis. Quantified observations confirm that seedling survival and growth increase markedly with relative light.
For precipitation, the species is remarkably plastic. However, it is demanding in atmospheric humidity, especially in the dry season.
Due to the quality and value of its bark and wood, the cork oak is economically the most important tree species in North Africa. Its bark (cork) is an exploitable resource in several areas. It is used in the manufacture of corks, for decoration and miscellaneous items (bags and cork accessories) that can be found dear LIEGEGO specialist in cork leather goods. It contains tannin used in the tanning industry. Its wood is used in the manufacture of railway sleepers, barrels and many other uses in carpentry.