Turkey oak (Quercus cerris)

leafy tree called Quercus cerris

El Quercus cerris or also known as turkey oak, belongs to the Fagaceae family. It originates from central and southern Europe, Syria, and Asia Minor, although given its name, it is said to have been first found in Turkey. However, its development has occurred in European countries, there is not much knowledge regarding its presence in countries of the American continent.

Features

green leaves of tall tree

In Spanish areas you can also find these shrubs, mostly in the Mediterranean basin of eastern Spain. However, the Castañeda area is the one with the most specimens of this beautiful tree. It is a tree with strength and wingspan, making it the most important in the forests of Europe, its length can reach 35 meters, whose growth will be subject to climate and soil conditions.

The cup can reach more than ten meters in height, the leaves of this tree have an elliptical shape and have a light greenish tone that, according to climatic changes, may darken.

Its flowers remain hanging from the branchesThey have an intense yellow color and can reach twelve centimeters in length and usually form in the summer season. The fruit, in the same way as other trees of the same family, is like an acorn that is one inch long, with a dome that covers it in half, it has fine scales that give it protection against external factors that may affect it. .

Its trunk is very strong, with a rough bark, has ridges and has a brown tone, its cultivation is similar to that of other trees, where the importance lies in knowing how to choose the soil and the irrigation.

Quercus cerris care

It is recommended that it be sown in shady or semi-shady areas, in warm climates, in cold places its cultivation can be done regardless of direct sunlight. It can withstand very cold frosts. Although it can occur in a variety of soils, it is recommended that these be deep and have good drainage.

In addition, they must be watered moderately throughout the year, waiting for the ground to dry out. Your fertilizer can be compost in the spring time. At the end of winter, it is advisable to prune them a little with training pruning, if applicable. They multiply easily by means of seeds that should be sown in the fall season or when the summer is ending.

Uses

It has numerous elements that allow it to be used medicinally, such as tannin, which can be made as an infusion using the bark and the leaves, a medicine that is used for inflammations, as an antiseptic and for haemostatics.

It also serves to heal, retracting tissue, deflating them and as an anti-hemorrhagic. It can also be used for problems in the digestive system, against diarrhea, gastritis, among others. If this is prepared, without knowing the correct dosage, it can be toxic and very fatal to the person, so it is advised that you go to a specialist.

Diseases and pests

tree branches with fruits

The tree is attractive to numerous insects, fungi and bacteria, pests can lodge in the trunk, weakening its bark and feeding on it, which weakens the molecular structure. As for mushrooms, invade the lower part of the trunk, making use of moisture to cause further damage.

Its leaves are attacked by pests and insects, such as borer infestation, devouring them, even the branches. What causes the filtration of the sun's rays is not stable, impairing photosynthesis. Similarly, butterfly larvae can feed on leaves when they are in metamorphosis.

Bacteria can affect acorns, turning them into brown sheets that cannot be recovered. All of these attacks can even kill the tree. Treatments to eliminate disease are usually pesticides and can sometimes be removed with your own hands, as with fungi. Nevertheless, it is advised that a plant specialist be consulted first, who will give the appropriate recipes to cure diseases.


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  1.   LUIS CARLOS MAZOTERAS MAYOR said

    I HAVE PLANTED 1 PLANT OF QUERCUS CERRIS, IT WILL BE 3-4 YEARS OLD, IT GROWS ONLY IN SPRING SUMMER, THEN IT STANDS UP AND LOSES ITS LEAVES WHEN WINTER ARRIVES, FERTILIZER AND IRRIGATION, CAN I ACCELERATE ITS GROWTH?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Luis Carlos.
      No, you are already doing everything you have to do to make it grow well 🙂
      The only thing, if you can, plant it in the ground, so you will see that it grows a little faster, or in a pot about 10 centimeters larger in spring.
      Greetings.