Common Name: Chinese Cork Oak

General Information

Quercus variabilis is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall[]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be up to 100cm in diameter; the bark is thick and corky[, ].
The tree is a source of cork and is managed on a commercial basis in China to optimize cork production. It is also harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain tannins. Whilst tannins are found in many foods, and have a range of medicinal uses. They are usually only present in low concentrations. In some foods made from oaks (particularly the seeds), the tannin content can be quite high unless the food is treated to reduce tannin content.
Tannins are only of low toxicity and, because of their bitter taste and astringency, are unlikely to be eaten in large quantities. However, if they are taken in excess, they can cause stomach pains; constipation followed by bloody diarrhoea: excessive thirst; and excessive urination[].

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - central and southern China, central and southern Japan, Korea, Vietnam.

Habitat

Mixed woods, occasionally in pure stands; at elevations from 800 - 1,600 metres[]. Evergreen and deciduous forests; at elevations below 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	30.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Semi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Quercus variabilis is a very cold-hardy tree, tolerating temperatures down to around -30°c when dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers. In areas with cooler summers, such as the maritime regions of the temperate zone, it often grows less well and fails to produce viable seed[, ].
Prefers warmer summers than are usually experienced in Britain, trees often grow poorly in this country and fail to properly ripen their wood resulting in frost damage overwinter[].
Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[, ]. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[].
Cultivated in the northern part of the Caucasus on an experimental basis for cork production. Cultivation trials also in Japan and the USA since 1945. The wood is used, among other things, in tannery and for production of black dye, which is used for dyeing of textiles[].
A very ornamental tree[].
Closely related to Quercus acutissima[].
Trees respond well to coppicing[].
The seed takes 18 months to ripenr[, ].
Seedlings soon develop a taproot and become intolerant of root disturbance, they should be planted into their permanent positions whilst young[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[, ]. Very nutritious, but it needs to be leached[]. The seed is up to 20mm long[].
The seed is usually cooked before eating, though it can also be eaten raw. It can be eaten whole, though it is more commonly dried, then ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.
In some species, especially many of those classified as 'white oaks', the seeds are low in tannins and have a more or less sweet and agreeable flavour. The seed of most species, however, have a very bitter flavour, due especially to the presence of tannins. In these species there are various processes that can remove or at least reduce the amount of these bitter substances (although other water-soluble substances, including some minerals, will also be removed).
Tannins are water-soluble and therefore the easiest way to remove or reduce tannin levels is by soaking in water. A few different methods are listed:-
A traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter and allow the wet soil to gradually leach the tannins. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency and bitterness.
Another method was to wrap the seeds in a cloth bag and place them in a stream for several weeks.
Drying the seed and grinding it to a powder before soaking speeds up the process. The fastest method is to use hot water, by cooking the powder and changing the water several times until the cooking water is no longer bitter. Alternatively, you can use cold water (which is reported to produce the best quality flour). In this case, you soak the powdered seed in cold water for 12 - 24 hours then discard the water. Repeat this process for a number of times until the soak water is no longer bitter.

The roasted seed of many Quercus species has been used as a coffee substitute.

Medicinal

Quercus (oak) species are used in the traditional medicine of many cultures, being valued especially for their tannins. Various parts of the plant can be used, most frequently it is the leaves, bark, seeds, seed cups or the galls that are produced as a result of insect damage. A decoction or infusion is astringent, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic, styptic and haemostatic. It is taken internally to treat conditions such as acute diarrhea, dysentery and haemorrhages. Externally, it is used as a mouthwash to treat toothache or gum problems and is applied topically as a wash on cuts, burns, various skin problems, haemorrhoids and oral, genital and anal mucosa inflammation[]. Extracts of the plant can be added to ointments and used for the healing of cuts[, ].

Other Uses

The leaves of most species in this genus are more or less rich in tannins. A mulch of the partially decayed leaves can be placed around vulnerable plants in order to repel slugs, snails, grubs etc, and these will in time break down to add humus and nutrients to the soil. Fresh leaves should be used with caution, however, since as these decay they utilize some of the nitrogen in the soil and thus can inhibit plant growth[, ].

Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff and is also used by many cultures to make ink[, ].
The bark is rich in tannins and can be used as a dyestuff and for waterproofing rope[, ].
A black dye is obtained from the seed cupules[, , ]. It is used for dyeing silk[].

The bark is a source of cork[, ]. It is used locally as a roofing material[].
Cork is a remarkable material. Light in weight, waterproof, rot-proof, flexible, chemically stable and a natural fire-retardant. It has many uses, including flooring, heat and sound insulation, floats and various industrial products, although nearly 80% of the total value of the cork crop is used for making wine stoppers. Cork based agglomerates are an ideal core material for components of lightweight structures, and have even been used in aerospace application[, , ].

An edible fungus (Hirneola polytricha) is cultivated on the trunks of felled saplings in western Hupeh[].

The wood is tough, strong and durable, valued for many uses. It is used for boat making and construction[].
The wood of many Oak species is a favoured fuel - burning well and giving off a lot of heat[].

Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is 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, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.