Quercus ilex

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds, Nuts

The seed, which grows up to 3cm long, can be eaten raw or cooked, and ranges from sweet to bitter depending on the individual tree. It can be dried, ground into a powder, and used as a thickening in stews or mixed with cereals for making bread. An edible oil is also obtained from the seed. Seeds from some trees contain bitter tannins that can be leached out by thoroughly washing in running water, though this also removes many minerals. Either whole seeds or dried ground powder can be used. Leaching whole seeds can take several days or even weeks; wrapping them in a cloth bag and placing them in a stream is one traditional method. Grinding to powder speeds up leaching, and a simple taste test indicates when tannins have been sufficiently removed. The traditional method was to bury seeds in boggy ground overwinter and dig up the germinating seeds in spring once astringency had faded. Roasted seeds serve as a coffee substitute. In Moroccan forests, around 20% of Quercus ilex trees produce tannin-free, sweet acorns that can be eaten raw with a flavour similar to raw chestnuts; the skin removes quite easily on these.

Where to Find It

It grows in Mediterranean climates. It can tolerate salt laden winds. It can grow in poor soils. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Temperate. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Kyneton Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-11. Arboretum Tasmania.

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Algeria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Croatia, East Africa, Europe, France, Greece, India, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, Myanmar, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, SE Asia, Slovenia, Spain, St Helena, Tasmania, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe,

How to Identify

A large tree. It grows to 20-25 m tall and spreads 18-22 m wide. It has a dense rounded crown. It is evergreen. The leaves are alternate. The younger leaves are broad and spiny and older leaves are narrow and do not have teeth. The leaves are glossy and dark green but grey underneath. The male flowers are long and yellow catkins. The acorns are round and small. They can be produced singly or in clusters. They are 2/3 rds enclosed in a scaly cup. The acorns are edible.

How to Grow

Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side. Thrives on shallow chalky soils. Succeeds in all soils except those that are cold and poorly drained. Grows well in sandy soils. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade. Very resistant to maritime exposure. A very ornamental tree but it is quite slow-growing. Transplants badly unless moved regularly and this should be done as growth commences in late May or in September. Fruits very freely in Britain. The seed ripens in its first year. The sub-species Q. ilex ballota is cultivated for its sweet-tasting edible seed in Portugal and Spain. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation: Seed loses viability quickly if allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter, but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed with protection from mice and squirrels. Small quantities can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Because plants develop a deep taproot, they should be moved to their permanent positions as soon as possible — trees sown in situ produce the best results. Do not leave trees in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons, as they transplant very poorly after that point.

Medicinal Uses

Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Other Uses

A mulch of the leaves repels slugs and grubs, though fresh leaves should not be used as they can inhibit plant growth. Oak galls, produced in response to insect larvae living inside them, become a rich source of tannin once the insect has pupated and left, and can be used as a dyestuff. The tree is very tolerant of maritime exposure and trimming, making it suitable as a shelterbelt tree or hedge in coastal areas. The wood is strong, hard, and durable, and is used for furniture. It makes excellent charcoal and burns well even when green. The bark is a source of tannin.

Quercus ilex, the holly oak, also (ambiguously, as many oaks are evergreen) evergreen oak, is a large evergreen oak native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the section Ilex of the genus, with acorns that mature in a single summer.

Production

It produces acorns in 5-10 years.

Other Information

Nuts are sold in markets.

Notes

There are about 600 Quercus species.

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