Have you ever heard of the Tanoak tree ? You migt not have , but this unequalled evergreen hardwood is an important part of the landscape painting in southwestern Oregon . The Tanoak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus syn . Notholithocarpus densiflorus ) is a species that belongs to the beech phratry ( Fagaceae ) . It has characteristic similar to both oak and chestnut , and all other 100 - 200 species of Lithocarpus are aboriginal to southeast Asia or Malaysia . In fact , it is 2d only to Pacific madrone as the most abundant hardwood in this area !
Tanoaks were once known for their tannic acid - rich barque , which was used for tanning leather before the advent of modern synthetic tannic acid . By 1907 , however , its role had waned due to the scarcity of big tanoak trees . Nowadays , they are still value for their forest , which is used to make piece of furniture and oter forest products . They also allow for a habitat for many animals and birds .
Tanoaks arise best in humid clime with mild winters and hot summers ; they can get hold of heights of up to 60 feet with trunk diameters of over two substructure ! As with any Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree coinage , proper care is important if you want them to boom . This includes even watering duing dry time period and fertilizing every spring with a balanced fertilizer . to boot , pruning should be done regularly to off all in limb and maintain its shape .
Tanoak trees are a worthful part of the ecosystem in southwest Oregon and should be hand right care if you want them to expand in your own environment ! So next sentence you ’re out on a walk or a rise , take some time to look up to these gorgeous trees – you just might be surprised at how much peach can arrive from such an invisible coinage !
Is the Tanoak a True Oak?
No , a tanoak ( Lithocarpus densiflorus syn . Notholithocarpus densiflorus ) is not a lawful oak . Tanoaks are close-fitting relatives of the oak and share certain characteristics , which explains why they are often called tanbark trees , but they are not the same species . While lily-white oak tree , golden oaks , and red oaks all go to the genus Quercus , tanoaks go to a closely link genus yell Lithocarpus . Although tanoaks look much like oaks and even produce acorn , they are clear-cut in their own right and should be deliberate their own species .
Uses of Tanoak
Tanoak was historically used to produce tannin , a center extracted from the barque of trees and used to tan fell into leather . The tannic acid produced from tanoak was extremely sought after due to its higher-ranking calibre and power to produce a cushy , more malleable leather than other whipping agents . Tanoak was traditionally harvested by removing the barque from standing Tree or felled log , which necessitate large amounts of material . As the demand for tannic acid grew and the available tanoak trees became more and more scarce , its use for this purpose began to decline around 1907 , replaced by innovative synthetical tannin .
The Benefits of Tanoak Wood
Tanoak wood is a unique evergreen hardwood that belongs to the beech family unit ( Fagaceae ) . It has characteristics similar to both oak tree and chestnut , defecate it an attractive alternative for many applications . Tanoak is aboriginal to southwestern Oregon , where it is the secondly - most abundant hardwood after Pacific madrone . The Mrs. Henry Wood has a straight metric grain with a fine texture . It is unaccented brownish in color and can have a yellowish or pinkish chromaticity . Tanoak wood is kown for its rigourousness and lastingness , making it ideal for flooring , cabinetry , piece of furniture , and other woodwork projects . The wood also ingest conclusion well and is easy to figure out with . In summation to its ravisher , tanoak wood also supply especial resistance to decomposition and pestilence , making it an first-class choice for outdoor diligence such as decks and fence .
Is Tanoak Native to California?
Yes , the tanoak ( Notholithocarpus densiflorus ) is native to California . It is rule in abundance alng the coast from Mendocino County all the way down to Ventura County and also in many mountain ranges of fundamental and northerly California . The tanoak is an evergreen plant Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree that farm to between 40 - 100 foot tall and has a bole diameter of up to three feet . Its leafage are narrow-minded and have a sheeny , saturnine greenish colouring material . The barque is brownish - gray , with atypical ridges and furrows .
Tanoaks produce edible nuts that were historically eat by Native Americans and are still used today by some communities for intellectual nourishment or crude oil . It is also an important habitat tree for many species of birds and other wildlife , provide cover as well as nutrient generator , such as its acorn . unluckily , the tanoak population has been declining due to agent such as drouth , flaming suppression , disease , invasive coinage , and human development . Despite these threats , it remains a culturally important species in California .
Uses of Tan Oak
Tan oak was heavily utilized in the early leather tanning industriousness of the West . Its barque contained high layer of tannic pane , which was extracted and used as a raw chemical to tan leather . This process began with soaking animal hide out in a solution of urine and tannic pane , which caused the fibers in the hide to hybridization - link , transforming it into a durable textile suitable for make article of clothing and oter point . Tan oak tree ’s ability to bring home the bacon tannin made it an invaluable resource for the leather industriousness during the nineteenth hundred .
Source : treegirl.org
Appearance of Tan Oak
A tanoak , Lithocarpus densiflorus , is an evergreen tree native to the west coast of North America . It has a orotund crown and can reach up to 40 metre grandiloquent and 1 cadence in diameter at its trunk base . Its bark is thin , blood-red Brown University and scaly . Its leaves are simple , alternate and glossy dark-green on top with a light undersurface . They are usually 8 - 12 cm long and 4 - 7 cm wide , with a pointed crest and finely serrated or lobed allowance . The tree produce small yellow - green flowers in clusters during the spring that become acorns during the fall . Acorns are or so 2 cm foresighted with a shallow loving cup cover aout one third of the nut . They mature to brown or grey after 1 year on the tree and have 3 - 4 ridges running along them .
The Benefits of Tanoak as Firewood
No , tanoak is not a good firewood choice . While there are 16 types of oaks in California , only those from the “ lily-white group ” should be burned as firewood because they are not susceptible to Sudden Oak Death , a serious tree disease that can spread if infected wood is glow . Tanoak and any other “ red ” oak should never be cauterise as they may carry this disease . For this understanding , it is best to nullify burning any case of oak tree in California for firewood purposes .
Conclusion
In conclusion , Tanoak is an of import evergreen hardwood that belongs to the beech syndicate and is native to southwestern Oregon . Although it shares some characteristics with oak and chestnut , it is not a genuine oak tree like blank oaks , golden oaks , or crimson oak . The tannic acid - plenteous bark of the tanoak tree diagram was once used for tanning leather before the use of forward-looking synthetical tannins , however by 1907 this practice session had become less common due to a scarceness of large tanoak trees . Nevertheless , tanoak remains an important and important native plant life in Santa Cruz and other part of southwest Oregon .
Caroline Bates
