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).