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cork oak |
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cork oak, name for an evergreen species of the oak genus (Quercus) of the family Fagaceae (beech beech, common name for the Fagaceae, a family of trees and shrubs mainly of temperate and subtropical regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The principal genera—Castanea ( chestnut and chinquapin ), Fagus (beech), and Quercus ..... Click the link for more information. family). The cork oak (Q. suber) is native to the Mediterranean region, where most of the world's commercial supply of cork cork, protective, waterproof outer covering of the stems and roots of woody plants. Cork is a specialized secondary tissue produced by the cork cambium of the plant (see meristem , bark ). ..... Click the link for more information. is obtained. It is cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental and has been introduced into warmer regions of the United States because of its economic value. The bark of the tree is stripped off (about every 10 years) and then processed for shipment as commercial cork. There is a cork layer in all trees but it is not as extensive or valuable as in the cork oak. Cork oak is classified in the division Magnoliophyta Magnoliophyta (măg'nōlēŏf`ətə) ..... Click the link for more information. , class Magnoliopsida, order Fagales, family Fagaceae. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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About 50 percent of the world's cork supply comes from forests in Portugal and Spain, where farmers strip the bark off cork oak trees for the wine industry. The cork is harvested every nine years and each cork oak is capable of producing 15-16 harvests over its 150 year lifespan. The bark of cork oak trees regenerates, allowing the trees to be safely stripped in nine-year intervals to create natural wine corks. |
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