English oak - Quercus robur. The common oak tree is a green symbol of wisdom

• Demanding on soil fertility. Grows best in deep, fertile, fresh loams LOAM - sandy-clayey soil containing 10-30% clay particles less than 0.005 mm in size (or 30-50% particles less than 0.01 mm) and a significant amount of sand (50-70%). A ball rolled from loam is crushed into a cake, along the edges of which cracks form. Loams are divided into light, medium and heavy. They hold water and nutrients well, accumulate heat; light and medium loams are considered the most successful soils for farming. And sandy loam LOAM (sandy loam soil) – loose sandy-clayey soil containing no more than 10% clay particles less than 0.005 mm in size and a lot of sand. Sandy loam is the least plastic of all clay soils; when you rub it between your fingers, grains of sand are felt, and it does not roll well into a cord. A ball rolled from sandy loam will crumble if you put a little pressure on it. Sandy loam soil is well aerated, heats up quickly and cools down quickly, does not hold water and nutrients well, and is easy to cultivate.. Loves moist soils, but does not tolerate excessive waterlogging.
• In nature it grows on gray forest GRAY FOREST SOILS - are formed in the forest-steppe zone under conditions of periodic leaching water regime under the canopy of broad-leaved, mixed or small-leaved forests with varied and abundant herbaceous vegetation. Upper humus layer gray, with a lumpy granular structure, no more than 20-25 cm thick. Usually quite fertile, but require protection from water erosion. loams, podzolic soils PODZOL SOILS are typical soils of coniferous and northern (“boreal”) forests. The name comes from the words “under” and “ash” and apparently appeared from Russian peasants who, when plowing, discovered a layer that resembled ash. These soils are formed in damp and cold areas, which are characterized by: depletion of plant litter in nitrogen and ash elements, leaching nutrients from the soil, slow soil life with a predominance of fungi, prolonged decomposition of organic matter with a tendency to oxidize the soil., degraded black soils CHERNOZEM (“black earth”) is a humus-rich, dark-colored soil formed on loams or clays in subboreal and temperate continental climates with periodically leaching or non-flushing water regime under perennial herbaceous vegetation. Chernozems are distinguished by good water-air properties, a cloddy-grained structure and increased fertility., on brown soils BUROZEMS (brown forest soils) – soil formed under broad-leaved, mixed and less commonly coniferous forests in conditions of a moderately warm humid climate with flushing water regime. Brown soils are characterized by a brown color, a lumpy structure, a high humus content, and a slightly acidic or acidic reaction. Fertile, valued in forestry and agriculture.(in the mountains), on dry rocky calcareous soils CALIMIC SOIL – soil containing at least 50% lime. Calcareous soils are loose, easy to cultivate, heat up quickly, form a crust after rain, do not retain water well, and plants often suffer from drought and lack of oxygen. They have an alkaline reaction and are moderately fertile.(in the mountains), on sandy loam, solonetzic SALTONZES are soils that have a large number of water-soluble sodium salts. They form in arid areas of the temperate, tropical and subtropical zones under conditions of non-flushing water regime. Unlike salt marshes, solonetzes do not contain salts in top layer, but at some depth. Solonetzes are viscous and sticky when wet, when dry they become hard and difficult to process, they have a highly compacted subsurface horizon, an alkaline reaction, and often form a crust on the surface. SALT SOILS have similar properties, but according to quantitative indicators they are not classified as solonetzes.(in the steppes), alluvial ALLUVIAL (FLOODWAY) SOILS - a group of soils located in river floodplains. Their distinctive feature– periodic flooding by flood waters, accompanied by the introduction and deposition of new mineral and organic material. In addition, these soils are characterized by close occurrence groundwater. Most alluvial soils contain silt, sand and gravel and are very fertile.(in floodplains of large rivers) soils.
• Can grow on medium (loamy) and heavy ( clayey CLAY SOIL – soil containing more than 30% clay particles (less than 0.005 mm in size). Clay soil is very plastic and rolls well into a cord. A ball rolled from clay is compressed into a flat cake without cracks forming at the edges. Clay soils heavy, dense, viscous, difficult to process, very rich minerals and microelements, do not allow water and air to pass through well. When it rains, water stagnates on the clay, and when there is drought, the earth becomes hard like a brick.) soils.
• Can grow on acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. Does not like acidic soils. When the soil reacts strongly, which usually occurs under the influence of spruce, the oak dies, giving way to the dominance of spruce.
• Thanks to its powerful root system, it can grow on dry, poor, rocky soils.
• Tolerates soil compaction. But excessive compaction in places with excessive recreational load or overgrazing of animals leads to a dry crown.

1. What does English oak look like?
2. Spreading
3. Climate and soil
4. Interesting features of wood
5. Using wood
6. Construction
7. Industry
8. Leaves and acorns
9. Medicine
10. When to collect material
11. Interesting facts about oak

Common oak (lat. " Quercus robur") represents the genus Oaks of the Beech family. It is also pedunculate oak, summer, English. The tree's homeland is the forests of southern Russia and eastern Europe.

What does English oak look like?

The common oak is a deciduous tree, its height reaches 50 meters, the girth of the trunk is up to 2 meters. It grows upward for an average of 200 years, then expands for the rest of its life. Using this feature, you can determine approximately how old the tree is. The lifespan of individual individuals is up to 500, or even more years.

The oldest representative of the species grows in Lithuania near the village of Stemluzh. Scientists were able to determine the approximate age of the centenarian - about 2000 years; historical documents contain his description. The Stemluzh oak tree still blooms and periodically bears fruit.

The oak root system has a main core that goes deep into the ground, due to which the tree receives reliable support and high vitality. Over time, lateral root processes of the first, second, third, etc., form and develop. order, the system acquires spherical shape. The longest stem of a mature tree can be located 20 meters above the ground or deeper.

A young plant has an even light gray bark with a smooth surface; with age it darkens and thickens up to 10 cm by the end of the oak’s life, becoming covered with deep cracks.

Crown pyramidal structure, wide, spreading. A tree with strong branches growing alternately on a powerful trunk.

Everyone knows what an oak leaf looks like in Russia and in the world: lobed with a characteristic jagged-rounded edge of a simple shape. The veins protrude slightly from the main plane.

Oak fruits are acorns. They ripen by mid-autumn in September-October. They have a round, elongated shape, brownish-brown, sometimes yellowish in color. The fruit is recessed into a flat plush on a short stalk.

The buds are brown, scaly, ovoid with a pointed tip. The scales have a ciliated edge.

Oak fruits are set in the spring with the arrival of warmth in April-May. Flowering occurs at the same time as the leaves bloom. Flowers of different sexes:

• Women's reddish tint with a short leg;
• Men's have the appearance of yellow-green dangling earrings.

There are 2 types of wood: early and late. The early species blooms leaves in April-May and sheds them mid autumn until October. Flowering occurs at the same time. The late representative becomes active 2-3 weeks later than its counterpart; often the leaves remain on the branches throughout the winter and fall off in the spring with the swelling of new buds. Their appearance is practically no different.

The common oak bears fruit every 4-5 years after reaching an age of over 50 years.

Spreading

The plant does not like frost, so northern latitudes practically never occurs. It forms forests in the middle and southern regions of Russia from the Urals to the Caucasus, where its homeland is located. IN natural conditions grows in Western Europe, Western Asia and Africa.

Man spreads the species to different parts of the Earth, but in unusual climatic conditions the tree develops worse: the trunk grows slowly, the height does not exceed 20 meters, bears fruit unstably, oak wood is often no different high quality. Oak trees are used to create interesting park compositions, decorate alleys and populate forest belts.

Under normal conditions, the common species grows in river valleys and forms mixed forests. The breed favorably coexists with representatives of coniferous and deciduous trees: pine, spruce, hornbeam, birch, beech, ash, maple.

Free-standing individuals are often found.

Climate and soil

Family loves temperate climate: normal humidity, average temperatures. Mixed forests of Russia are the optimal habitat for oak trees.

For comfortable life requires rich in minerals and organic fertilizers soil. Wet and deep gray loams of forests are optimal for tree development. In such areas, the life expectancy of the oak is maximum; the trunk actively grows and remains alive for a long time.

Useful composition of wood and fruits

Oak wood and leaves are a storehouse of various microelements used by humans in various branches of medicine and industry:

• Up to 20% of wood and leaves are tannins; they are used in medicine and the leather industry.
• Gallic and egallic organic acids;
• Carbohydrates and sugars, in particular pentosans (up to 14%);
• Flavonoids;
• Microelements (in descending order): K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, Al, Cr, Ba, V, Se, Ni, Sr, Pb, B, Ca, Se, Sr.

Acorns, as fruits for reproduction, also possess a number of substances that are useful and vital for development:

• Starches;
• Proteins;
• Carbohydrates (sugars);
• Saturated oils up to 5% of the total volume.

Oak forests serve as a source of unique wood, widely used in various industries due to its unique beneficial properties:

1. Elasticity.
2. High strength and density;
3. High tensile strength in bending (95 MPa), compression (50 MPa), tensile strength (118 MPa);
4. The treated trunk retains its specifications in high humidity and under water;
5. Low shrinkage coefficient without cracking;
6. Well preserved in air;
7. The service life of structures and products reaches 100 years with proper care.

Using wood

A person uses all parts of a petiolate tree - leaves, trunk, acorns, buds. Each material has found application in different sectors of our life.

Construction

The oak trunk is the source durable wood, which is used to make building structures and products:

• Solid board;
• Parquet;
• Boards for covering walls and ceilings;
• Elements of window frames;
• Doors.

The material is durable, abrasion resistant, hard. The age of oak directly affects the quality of raw materials: how older plant, the stronger and more valuable the wood. Its color is uniform, its interesting texture and cut pattern look attractive and calm. Thanks to this quality, the material has found application in the furniture industry and the creation of interior items.

Industry

Use of wood common oak has become widespread in the manufacture of components for:

• Shipbuilding;
• Mining industry;
• Hydraulic structures;
• Production of barrels for winemaking;
• Horse harnesses, carts, wheels, etc.

The trunk of an adult plant serves as raw material for efficient fuel.

Leaves and acorns

When flowering begins, bees pollinate the trees, collect pollen and nectar, from which valuable honey is obtained.

Acorns from the forest serve as food for wild boars and domestic pigs. The high nutritional value of the fruit is also suitable for humans: the mature material is dried, ground into flour and used for baking. And processed in a special way Acorns are added to ground chicory to create a healthy drink that replaces coffee.

Leaves on young branches brought from the oak forest are tied into brooms that rival birch brooms - they are just as good in a bathhouse.

Medicine

Scientific information about useful substances And healing properties wood allow the material to be used as an independent or accompanying treatment for many different diseases.

The description of tannins as an astringent and anti-inflammatory agent has existed for centuries. Active components contained in the bark. Drugs are prescribed for pathologies gastrointestinal tract and food poisoning, with problems Bladder, kidney.

A decoction of bark and leaves is used externally. The tannins in their composition help when there is a violation of the skin: wounds, abrasions, cuts, eczema, ulcers. In addition, decoctions and infusions are prescribed for gargling the throat and pharynx for acute respiratory viral infections and sore throats.

When prescribing concomitant herbal medicine, the doctor takes into account the characteristics of the main treatment, the course of the disease and the condition of the body. By combining factors, the specialist determines how long and in what form to use natural remedies. Self-treatment can only be preventive.

When to collect material

During the life and growth of a tree, the trunk acquires greater strength and density, and the material becomes valuable, so individuals of suitable size are selected for felling.

The bark is harvested in the month of sap flow, usually in April-May. It is dried on outdoors without allowing waterlogging.

Acorns for planting are collected in the fall, when the fruits reach their maturity. They are placed in artificial hibernation in a refrigerator or cellar until spring, after which they are germinated and planted in the ground. You can collect them in the first or second month of spring, when the snow has just melted and the acorn has not had time to take root.

It would seem that a tree is like a tree, but the species of the oak family is not so simple. Some Interesting Facts from the life of a stately plant.

1. The breed is so diverse that there are about 600 representatives of the oak fraternity around the world. Many of them are similar to each other and can only be distinguished by advanced biologists.
2. 80 years is a serious period, especially for a person’s life. And the eightieth anniversary of marriage is called an “oak” wedding.
3. There are two ways to determine how old an oak tree is: count the number of rings on the cut of the trunk or measure the circumference of the trunk in centimeters and derive the radius using the formula (circumference/2π)/2. New rings appear every year, expanding by 2-3 mm, based on this, we divide the resulting radius by 2-3 mm.

1. Oak charcoal has a significant burning time, but flammable material does not hold heat well, and powerful draft is required to maintain the process.
2. Expensive construction and finishing material- bog oak. Wood artificial or naturally falls into the water long term(up to 100 years), there is a significant increase in the strength of the raw material and the acquisition of a black color.
3. For propagation, the plant in most cases uses small acorns rather than root shoots.
4. Oak forests create optimal conditions for the life of many representatives of flora and fauna.
5. Interesting sounds of oak can be heard: musician Bartholomaus Traubeck created a unique record using nanotechnology.

1. Forests with oaks have healing power. There is evidence that the leaves and bark secrete special phytoncides that relieve headaches and calm the nervous system.
2. The species has high electrical conductivity - oaks are more likely than other trees to be struck by lightning.
3. The lifespan of oak products can be several thousand years: in the English county of Norfolk, the Bronze Age monument Seahenge, created in the 21st century, was discovered. BC.

Medicinal herbs and plants - Common oak, pedunculate: description, medicinal properties, preparation, application, folk recipes, contraindications and precautions, recommendations.

Description.

LEAN OAK (Quercus robur L.)

Common oak, pedunculate, is a deciduous tree, reaching 50 m in height, of the beech family (Fagaceae). The bark of old trees (from 50-60 years old) is brown-gray, fissured, up to 10 cm thick, of young trunks and branches it is silver-gray, fissured, of young shoots it is smooth, olive-brown. The buds are hemispherical, light brown, with cilia along the edges of the scales. The leaves are simple, alternate, oblong-obovate, lobed, with short petioles, glabrous, shiny, green with prominent veins and clearly defined ears at the base. The flowers are unisexual, the plant is monoecious. Males have greenish-yellow long dangling earrings, females are reddish, one or several on short stalks. The fruits are acorns, brownish-yellow with oblong stripes and a spine at the top, immersed in a shallow cup-shaped plus. Reproduction is by seed; Acorns are carried by birds. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 40-60. Abundant harvests acorns are repeated after 4-8 years. Renewal is also carried out by stump growth. It blooms in late April - early May (during the blooming of leaves and the beginning of the growth of young shoots), the fruits ripen in September - early October. Oak lives up to 400-500 years, individual trees - up to 1500-2000 years, reaching 4 m in diameter. The oldest Stelmuk oak tree in Europe (located in Lithuania) is 2000 years old. Grows in deciduous forests and oak groves. Oak is a heat-loving tree. Often suffers from late spring frosts. Relatively light-loving, and at a young age, when it grows slowly, it is often drowned out fast growing trees(birch, aspen and hornbeam). Therefore, it requires care - clarification by cutting down fast-growing species.
Not a single tree enjoyed such love and honor among the peoples of Europe as the oak. The Slavs, ancient Greeks, Romans considered it sacred, worshiped it, attributed miraculous properties. It was believed that the oak was given by the gods to people as a great gift. Without the permission of the priests it was impossible to cut down an oak tree or break off a branch. In Greece, an oak branch was a symbol of strength, power, and nobility. Oak branches were awarded to warriors who accomplished great feats. The Greeks believed that the oak appeared on earth earlier than other trees, and dedicated it to the god of light, science and art, Apollo. The Slavs dedicated the oak to Perun. The Slavs held meetings, trials, and wedding ceremonies under the sacred oak trees.

Preparation.

Oak bark is mainly used as a medicinal raw material. It is harvested during sap flow (which coincides with bud opening), without a cork layer with outside and wood from the inside. To collect bark, only young trees cut down at logging sites and sanitary fellings can be used. Dry it under shelters in the open air or in well-ventilated areas. In good weather, you can dry it in the sun. Dry bark breaks when bent, while under-dried bark bends. It is necessary to ensure that the bark does not become moist during drying, as this will cause it to lose a significant part of the tannins it contains. The shelf life of raw materials is 5 years. Dry bark has no odor, but when soaked in water and especially when washed hot water a characteristic smell characteristic of fresh bark appears. The taste is very astringent.

Medicinal properties.

Galenic preparations of oak bark have astringent, anti-inflammatory and anti-putrefactive properties. The plant's tannins (tannin) are responsible for the main tanning effect. When applying galenic preparations of oak or tannin to wounds or mucous membranes, interaction with proteins is observed, resulting in the formation protective film, protecting tissues from local irritation. This slows down the inflammation process and reduces pain. Tannins denature the protoplasmic proteins of pathogenic microorganisms, which leads to a delay in their development or death.

Application.

The bark of young branches, thin trunks used as an astringent, for rinsing with gingivitis, stomatitis, inflammatory processes pharynx, pharynx, larynx and for the treatment of burns, replaces imported ratania. In homeopathy - for tumors of the spleen and liver, for alcoholism. In France, a decoction is used for tuberculosis and rickets. In England, ointment is used to treat frostbite. Infusion - for gastritis and enteritis, stomach ulcers, gastric bleeding, colitis, dysentery, cholera. Lotions - for skin diseases, bedsores, enemas and suppositories - for hemorrhoids and anal fissures, douching - for vaginal diseases and polymenorrhea, baths - for hyperhidrosis. Infusions and decoctions - for frostbite. Antidote for poisoning with alkaloids and salts of heavy metals. The decoction has a pronounced deodorizing effect. B folk medicine(inside) - for gynecological diseases, heavy menstruation, diarrhea, gastric ulcers, dysentery, gastrointestinal diseases, liver and spleen diseases, thyroid gland, rickets, cholera, pyelonephritis; externally - for sweating, for washing bleeding hemorrhoids and purulent wounds, gargling and mouthwash for inflammation, to eliminate unpleasant odor from the mouth, to remove calluses; ointment - for burns and frostbite. Oak bark is included in bath mixtures for scrofula and rickets.
Leaves. In Azerbaijan, infusion and decoction - with diabetes mellitus. They have an astringent, anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect. Juice - for diabetes.
Gauls. Lotions from freshly prepared decoction or powder - when gastrointestinal disorders, burns, purulent wounds, lichen, eczema, skin tuberculosis.
Acorns. Acorn coffee and dry powder - for colitis, scrofula. Infusion and decoction - for rickets, anemia, nervous diseases, polymenorrhea, scrofulosis, diabetes mellitus. Juice - similar to infusion and decoction.

Folk recipes.

Oak bark decoction: 20 g (2 tablespoons) of raw materials are placed in an enamel bowl, pour 200 ml of hot boiled water, cover with a lid and heat in boiling water (in a water bath) for 30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes at room temperature, filter, the remaining raw materials are squeezed out, the volume of the resulting decoction is adjusted with boiled water to 200 ml. The prepared broth is stored in a cool place for no more than 2 days. Used for rinsing - 8 times a day as an astringent and anti-inflammatory agent for inflammatory diseases mucous membrane of the oral cavity, pharynx, pharynx, larynx, gingivitis, stomatitis.

Decoction of oak bark: 40 g of raw material is poured into 250 ml of water, boiled for 30 minutes, left for 2 hours. Used in the form of lotions, enemas, baths, rinses.

Infusion of oak bark: 10 g of raw material is infused in 400 ml of chilled boiled water for 6 hours, then filtered. Take 1/2 cup 3-4 times a day before meals.

Oak leaf juice: squeezed from fresh leaves collected immediately after flowering. Take 1/2-1 teaspoon of juice with honey (1:1), diluted in warm water, 3 times a day.

Oak acorn juice: squeezed from green acorns. Take 1-3 tablespoons with honey (1:1) on an empty stomach 3-5 times a day.

Oak bark ointment: 2 parts oak bark powder, 1 part black poplar buds mixed with 7 parts butter, keep in a warm oven for 12 hours, then cook over low heat or a water bath for 30 minutes, filter.

Oak decoction (externally): 1 tbsp. spoon of raw materials (leaves and bark) per 1 glass of water, boil for 1-3 minutes, strain.

Oak infusion (tea): 1 teaspoon of raw material per 2 cups of boiling water, leave for 2 hours in a warm place, strain before drinking, take 0.5 cup 3 times a day before meals. Drinking more than 2 glasses of tea per day is not recommended.

For acne on the skin of the face, use a decoction of oak bark mixed with vodka according to this recipe: 1 tbsp. Pour a spoonful of bark into a glass of water and boil for 10-15 minutes. Let it cool, strain and add vodka in a ratio of 1:2, i.e. 1 part broth and 2 parts vodka. Wipe your face with this lotion.

Volatile oak phytoncides have a beneficial effect on patients with hypertension and atherosclerosis. Inhaling the air of an oak forest for even 20 minutes leads to the disappearance of headaches, a decrease in pain in the heart, a decrease in irritability and normalization of sleep.

Contraindications and precautions.

Do not overdose; after all, this is a tannin and can cause vomiting. Ingestion of infusion and decoction is strictly prohibited for children. A decrease in the sense of smell may occur with frequent and prolonged rinsing of the mouth with oak decoction.
Treatment of children under two years of age with any herbal remedies poses a potential danger.

There are contraindications. Self-medication is contraindicated. Before using any prescription, consult your doctor for advice and permission to use.

English oak (Quercus robur) is a large powerful tree up to 40 m tall with a wide pyramidal, asymmetrical and highly branched crown, with strong branches and a thick trunk (1-1.5 m in diameter). At 20-30 years of age, more or less deep cracks form on the bark. Trees grown in freedom have bark up to 10 cm thick. Distributed throughout almost all of Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to the Urals. The leaves are obovate or oblong-obovate, 7-15 cm long, on petioles about 5 mm, pinnately lobed (usually 6 pairs of lobes), reddish in spring, green in summer, leathery, slightly shiny. Flowers are dioecious. Flowering begins in trees between 40 and 60 years old, along with the blossoming of leaves, usually in May. The plant is monoecious. Male flowers collected in hanging earrings 2-3 cm long, emerging from the axils of the kidney scales. Female flowers collected in inflorescences (from 3 to 12 flowers each), which are formed in the axils upper leaves shoots. The fruit is an oblong acorn, 2-3 cm long, single-seeded (occasionally with 2-3 seeds). When mature, it is gray or brown with longitudinal green stripes. Ripens in September-October.

The root system consists of a very long taproot; from 6-8 years, lateral roots begin to develop, also going deep into the ground.

Usually lives up to 300-400 years. Height growth stops at the age of 100-200 years. There are specimens that are about 2000 years old.
Description: deciduous tree with a dense, spreading crown. Height 40 m, width 25 m.
Growth rate: slow. The active growth phase is observed in the first 20 years when the annual growth is 30 cm in height and 20 cm in width.
Durability: from 400 to 1500 years.
Flowers: yellow-green, flat, round, 0.4 cm. Blooms from late May to early June. Most often, flowering lasts 10 days.
Foliage: dark green. Yellow-brown in autumn. Leaves are obovate, 5-7 lobed, from 10 to 15 cm.
Light: loves sunny places, tolerates slight shading.
Moisture: does not tolerate stagnant moisture, grows at any soil moisture. One of the features of English oak is that although it does not tolerate stagnant moisture, it can easily withstand flooding for up to three weeks.
Soil: Can grow in any soil. Preferably loose and fertile, can grow on saline soils.
Frost resistance: high.
Decorative: English oak is decorative with its crown, which is beautiful in itself, even without foliage.

Planting and caring for pedunculate oak

Grows well on fertile, non-fertile acidic soils(See What is Soil Acidity: Determining and Managing pH). Oak is light-loving, try to choose one for it sunny place. However, completely open places should be avoided because seedlings may suffer from frost and wind. When the oak tree is young, it grows slowly; during this period of growth, surround it with shrubs or other trees.

The root collar should not be buried; it is better if it is at ground level or higher. The deepening of the root collar negatively affects the subsequent growth of the tree.

Regular watering and weeding are required in the first years after planting. A month before the leaves begin to fall, additional watering is stopped so that the trees are better prepared for winter.

Oak is susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew, especially young trees. To prevent this from happening, plants need to be treated with garden (colloidal) sulfur (30-40 g per bucket of water), or other sulfur-containing preparations.

Beneficial features:

The bark and leaves of pedunculate oak are widely used in folk medicine and homeopathy. They have anti-inflammatory, astringent, hemostatic, sedative and anthelmintic effects. Decoctions and tinctures are used for gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea, colic, colitis, exacerbation of peptic ulcers, bleeding, varicose veins veins, liver and spleen diseases.

Oak bark is also used as a remedy for hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, eczema (made as lotions), frostbite (in the form of baths), burns, scrofula, and bleeding gums.

You can’t do without it if you have bad breath or excessive sweating of your feet. And baths with the addition of oak extract improve blood circulation and give wellness, strengthen the immune system and the body as a whole.

English oak, or Summer oak, or Common oak, or English oak(lat. Quércus robur) - tree ; species of the genus Oak ( Quercus) family Beech ( Fagaceae).

Name

This species received the specific epithet “petiolate” for its long stalks, which distinguish it from other species.

Description

Reaches a height of 20-40 m. It can live up to 2000 years, but usually lives 300-400 years. Growth in height stops at the age of 100-200 years; growth in thickness, although insignificant, continues throughout life. Probably the oldest representative should be considered the Stelmuzhi oak with a trunk circumference of 13 m in Lithuania. Its age, according to various estimates, is from 1500 to 2000 years.

Common oak is one of the main forest-forming species of broad-leaved forests in Europe, as well as communities of the European forest-steppe, growing next to hornbeam, ash, linden, maple, elm, beech, birch, spruce, pine and some other trees. In the middle forest zone it does not form large tracts.

Young oak trees are quite shade-loving, mature plant loves light more. Oak is picky about soils.

Famous trees

Oaks, which are among the longest-living trees, have many famous trees. The most famous: Kaiser Oak, Zaporozhye Oak, Tsar Oak, Stelmuzhsky Oak, Chapel Oak.

Pests and diseases

Pathogenic fungi

Chemical composition

Especially appreciated " bog oak» - tree trunks that have lain at the bottom of lakes or rivers for many years. This wood acquires extraordinary strength and an almost black color.

Oak provides excellent fuel.

Common oak is a spring pollen bearer. Bees collect a lot of highly nutritious pollen on it, individual years Nectar is collected from female flowers. But honeydew and honeydew often appear on oak trees. In places where oak occupies large tracts, bees collect a lot of honeydew and honeydew, from which they produce honey that is unsuitable for winter consumption. To avoid mass death This honey is pumped out from bees during wintering.

Oak brooms in a Russian bathhouse will not be inferior to birch brooms, or even surpass them.

Often livestock graze in oak plantations, which causes great damage to the normal growth and development of young plants.

In medicine

The bark has astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and hemostatic properties. A decoction of the bark is used for rinsing for gingivitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis, halitosis and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and larynx, in the form of baths, washes and compresses, used to treat burns, frostbite, ulcers and others skin diseases, For foot baths for sweating feet, for washing bleeding hemorrhoids, drink for diarrhea, dysentery, poisoning with alkaloids and salts of heavy metals, gastrointestinal bleeding, heavy menstruation.

Fresh crushed leaves are applied to ulcers and wounds to heal them.

Dried oak seeds, crushed into powder, are used for bladder disease and diarrhea.

A coffee surrogate is made from acorns, which is not only nutritious, but also remedy for gastrointestinal diseases, rickets, anemia and scrofula in children. It is also useful for nervous patients and for excessive menstrual bleeding.

In veterinary medicine, oak bark is widely used as a remedy for stomach disorders.

In green building and ornamental gardening

Common oak is used in green construction as decorative and phytoncidal plant when creating suburban groves, alleys, curtains, single plantings in parks and forest parks. Such are known decorative forms common oak: with a pyramidal crown and a shape in which the foliage falls 15-20 days later than that of an ordinary oak.

Common oak is recommended as the main species in forest reclamation plantations, in shelterbelts, in anti-erosion plantings along gullies and ravines, and on washed-out soils. It can be planted along irrigation canals, since its root system does not drain the canal walls and does not destroy their covering.

Garden forms and cultivars

Collection, processing and storage

Common oak bark for medicinal purposes is harvested mainly during sap flow (April - May), removing it from young branches and thin trunks (up to 10 cm in diameter) in logging sites or thinnings. To remove the bark, ring-shaped cuts are made every 30 cm, which are connected with longitudinal cuts, after which the bark is easily removed. Dry under a canopy with good ventilation. The yield of dry raw materials is 40-50%. Dry bark is packed into bales weighing 100 kg. Store in a dry, well-ventilated area. Shelf life is five years.