An important industry for Portugal and other European countries, The Cork Oak (Quercus suber, syn. Q. occidentalis) is native to the Mediterranean and represents one of the major types of plant communities in those regions.
Cork Oak forests also act as important wildlife ecosystems, being habitat to endangered birds and the Iberian Lynx, which is a critically threatened feline. As the tree forms a thick bark (which is the source of cork) around its cambium, it helps the tree to defend itself not only from herbivory, but also forest fires.
It is most famous for being a source of cork production; however, the Cork Oak has other uses. The thick cork covering is also able to be harvested repeatedly for cork production, which is done entirely by hand (with a small axe). The cork harvested is used in making wine corks, as well as a variety of goods ranging from cork paper, handicrafts, cricket balls to sound-proofing. Even though the use of cork for making wine corks is a minority of the volume it represents the most lucrative market channel.
The Cork Oak is also grown ornamentally around the world, and its acorn is consumed as a food or coffee substitute. The acorns are also powdered and used as a thickener, or a flour mixed with other grains for making bread. Cork Oak is considered GRAS in the US as a flavor. Galls produced from insect larvae are also high in tannins and can be used as a dye, or traditionally as an astringent medicine.
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