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Cork Trees
An Educational Article That's Fun!
Have you got any corks? Go fish! Chances are that the cork anchored on the end of your fishing line traveled all the way from Portugal! Come and peer into the fascinating facts surrounding 'not so common' cork. How long does a cork oak live? You'll be amazed!
Cork is a product of the cork oak tree, an evergreen tree of the beech family, and it is one of the most unique products on the market today. The bark of the cork oak tree is harvested and used is a wide assortment of products such as insulation, gaskets, floats, buoys, life preservers and fishing corks. Cork is a great insulator and sound absorber.
The bark grows in two layers, with the inner layer forming the base for the growth of the outer layer. Let's take an inside look at the process and stages of cork harvesting:
At 25 years, the outer layer is stripped from the tree. At this stage, it's too wooly and coarse to be valuable.
Nine years later, the outer bark is stripped again, but the cork still lacks high quality.
Nine more years pass and again, the bark is stripped. At this point the cork oak has fully matured and yields a high-quality cork.
Cork oaks can be harvested every nine years, with the stripping season occurring during July and August. It grows in southern Europe, principally in Spain and Portugal, and also in North Africa.
After the cork is stripped it must be dried, then boiled. The boiling process removes tannic acid and sap, as well as softens the cork so it can be pressed into sheets. From that point, it will be fashioned into useful products.
The cell structure of cork is very unique, consisting of millions of 14-sided microscopic cells bound together by natural resins. Each cell has a tiny chamber of captive air. Cork will generally pop back in place, even after a 'good mashing'. It is one of the lightest of all solid substances and is not easily penetrated by moisture or gases. Cork doesn't soften or dissolve when exposed to many common chemicals; it's resilient!
Some fascinating facts about the life cycle of the cork oak tree are:
A 50-year old tree produces about 100 pounds of cork.
An 80-year old tree produces about 500 of quality cork.
The life span of a cork oak tree is about 150 years!
One last bit of unknown trivia:
No one knows just how many fish have been caught through use of a bobbing cork!
Winter is Alive | Waterwheels | Persimmons | Edible Mushrooms | Legend of a Tall, Tall Tree
Fall Foliage | Spiders & Venomous Encounters | Campfire God | The Cork Tree
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