O u r Trees
Oak
or
common
oakQuercus robur L.
Sweet
chestnutCastanea sativa Miller
CameliaCamellia japonica L.
Distribution:All
of
Europe
from
Ireland
to
the
Caucasus
and
North to
Scandinavia.Height: 35 m
Shape: Broadly
spreading
Deciduous
speciesPollinization:
Wind
Oak
or
common
oakQuercus robur L.
Oak
orco
mm
onoa
kQ
uerc
us r
obur
L.
Oak
orco
mm
onoa
kQ
uerc
us r
obur
L.
Leave
and
fruits Bark
Oak
orco
mm
onoa
kQ
uerc
us r
obur
L.
Colours in Autumn
Oak
orco
mm
onoa
kQ
uerc
us r
obur
L.HISTORY
•
This species appears in Galician ecosystems when it reaches the ecological balance. Due to this, it was very common in Galicia.
•
Oak
wood was widely used in ship building in the 16th,17th
and mainly in the 18th
centuries. Later it was used to make sleepers for the railways. Due to this, the number of specimens decreased and oaks disappeared in many places.
•
Acorns were a great source of carbohydrates before chestnuts were introduced by the Romans.
•
Oak wood was very appreciated to make beams and furniture. Nowadays it is sought to make barrels to mature wines and whiskies.
Oak
orco
mm
onoa
kQ
uerc
us r
obur
L.INTERESTING FACTBuilding
a medium-
sized
vessel
requiered 4000 m3
of
wood, 3000 m3
of
which
were
oak wood.
This
amount
is equivalent
to
1500 big
oak
trees, around
50 hectares
of
oak
forest
more than
150 years old.
According
to
the
system used
to
select
the
trees
–they
had
to
have certain
features-
this
number
could
be ten times higher.
José
María de Juán- García Aguado
Naval Engineer, PhD
Distribution:Southern
Europe,
North Africa
and south-west
Asia.
Height: 30 mShape: Broadly
columnar
DeciduousPollinated: Insect
Size
of
the
tree
without
leaves
Sweet
chestnutCastanea sativa Miller
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Old
specimens
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Male flowers Bark
Leaf
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
.
The
seed
or
chestnut was
used
in ancient
times as food.Nowadays
it
is
also
used
that
way.
Fruit
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
HISTORY
It
comes from
the
Eastern Mediterranean
area, from
where
it spreaded
to
be grown
due
to
its
many
uses. It
became
acclimatized
to
Galicia very
easily
and
was
one
of
the
most important
trees
in our
region
due
to
its
good
wood
and
also
food
too.Nowadays
the
number
of
specimens
has diminished
due
to
it
not
being
cultivated
any
more, the
felling
and
several
fungal diseases.
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Chestnut forest where we can see “curripa” constructions, stone circular estructures where the chestnut cupules were dried in order to get the chestnuts out of them more easily.
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
In our region chestnuts are eaten in Autumm, when they are ripe, and mainly around two catholic holidays: the Day of the Dead (October 31st ) and All Saint’s Day (November 1st ). The rest of the year they are eaten dry.
COOKED CHESTNUTS WITH MILK
Ingredients
•Dry
or
raw chestnuts
•Milk•A cinnamon
stick•Lemon
zest
Procedure
Cook all ingredientes
together
until chestnuts
are
tender.
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Cooked
in water, adding
fennel
to
give
them
flavour
Fennel
(foeniculum
vulgare)
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Several ways to prepare canned chestnuts
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Such as:•Canned chestnuts au naturel•Marrons-glacés•Chestnut puree
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Chestnut tree wood was very appreciated in construction
Swee
tch
estnut
Cast
anea
sati
vaM
iller
Also for making furniture and other instruments
CameliaCamellia japonica L.
Countries
of
origin:China and
JapónHeight: 5-8 m
Evergreen species
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.Ca
melia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
Fruit
Flower
Leave
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
:
History
This tree was introduced from Eastern Asia in the 18th century and it is grown for ornamental purposes all over Spain.
It became acclimatized to Galicia so well that now it is one of the most important species. It can be found in many parks and gardens in all its varieties, their main difference being their flowers.
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
It looks good both as a single specimen or forming hedges
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L. It is also used in rows as decoration for some streets. Dolores Street, Ferrol
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
A variety of camelia
flowers decorated with leaves of other species
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.
Camelia
Cam
ellia
japo
nica
L.Camelias
exhibitions are held in many villages and
towns of Galicia all over the year.
ActivityWe suggest working with these three trees in all the countries involved.
The students could find out if there are specimens of every specie in their country.
If so, they could study and compare their botanical characteristics, history and uses against the Spanish specimens. With the results they could complete a project like the one we show on the right or other similar ones.
If not, they could find out the reason why they don’t grow in their countries (incompatible climate, topography, etc).
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