Cork

Corktrees - Centenary tree

By Susana Martinho - março 28, 2018



It is used on warmer lands due to its oval shape and its leaves' density. From its trunk sprouts cork, used to an array of purposes, for example, cork stoppers.

However, the evergreen or persistent tree changes its all closet during Spring. Between April and May, in Porto, corktrees shed their leaves, leaving place to a new set – the dark green ones are replaced by golden leaves, and after, by a lighter green.

With a height up to 25 meters, it can be as old as 500 years! In Portugal, the corktree is considered the national tree. The acorn is its fruit, one of the main components in the Iberian pig and the squirrels menu.
 
http://peticaopublica.com/pview.aspx?pi=fimcorridaporcopreto
The main purpose of this tree is its cork, as said before, not only for the bottle stoppers, nor only for the art of fishing, but also for the hives, sound and thermal isolation, or even for footwear and decoration industry.

It also has a strong presence in Alentejo, where it is known as Chaparro, but can also be seen in Porto, in Fonte da Moura, for example.

Lisbonne-idde
This year, the corktree of Águas de Moura was awarded with the European Tree of the Year. It's the first time that Portugal participated and was rewarded with the victory. The "whistling" (Assobiador) corktree, counting 234 years, lives in Setúbal. It tells the tales of love, death and recently of prise.


                                                                                                                                    Ler em Português

                                                                                                                        Author: Susana Martinho
Edited by: Pedro Valente Lima

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