The Quercus robur, or English Oak, is a valuable tree for insects and wildlife, providing homes and food. Its bark is used for herbal remedies, and its wood for furniture making. The tree is native to Europe and Asia, and can live for centuries. It is also a national emblem of England.
A valuable tree for insects and wildlife, the quercus robur, or English Oak, provides a home for many different creatures. Q. robur carries the acorns on which many animals depend for their livelihoods. Many common human ailments can also be treated with essential oils created from the bark of the tree.
Latin for “hard and strong wood,” Quercus robur is also known as the common oak. The tree is native to Europe and Asia, and has since been widely planted in North America. Large and deciduous, Q. robur can grow up to 82 to 98 feet (25 to 30 meters) tall. English Oaks have short-stalked lobed leaves, gray-brown fissured bark, and a stout trunk. It blooms in mid-spring, the tree bears its ripe fruits, acorns, in autumn.
Humans use Quercus robur for various herbal remedies. The bark is considered a powerful astringent. The home herbal remedy has treated diarrhea, laryngitis, burns, cuts, sunburn, kidney problems, and throat problems. The bark has also been used to treat fevers, colds, bronchitis, coughs, and mild inflammation of the skin. These treatments are commonly given as a cold compress, alcohol tincture, tea, or cream.
An average dose of quercus robur is one teaspoon (3 grams). English Oak should not be applied over large areas of skin. If ingested, it can cause digestive problems. The remedy should also be avoided by people with severe skin inflammation, as it can aggravate the problem.
Quercus robur acorns, leaves and shoots provide homes for many different insects. Squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals, as well as birds, such as Eurasion Jays, eat the tree’s acorns. Humans also use the tree itself as a shade tree, as well as a source of heartwood, which is used for furniture making and indoor home construction.
Most quercus thieves can live for centuries. Pruning trees to allow for maximum growth can lengthen this projected lifespan, as well as the overall health of the tree. The oldest English oaks in history have lived for over a thousand years. The tree requires full sunlight and grows one foot (one-third of a meter) annually.
The tree is also considered a national emblem of England. Known as the Royal Oak, Quercus Robur was the tree in which King Charles II hid during the English Civil War. Due to this status, the tree received its own holiday – Oak Apple Day – May 29. The Royal Oak is also a popular name for pubs and Royal Navy warships in the country. A rich history surrounds the quercus robur, considered sacred by the Romans, the Druids and the Greeks.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
