Sobreiro Monumental Explained

Sobreiro Monumental
Species:Cork oak
Binomial:Quercus suber
Location:Águas de Moura, Palmela, Portugal
Coordinates:38.5866°N -8.691°W
Seeded:1784
Custodian:Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF)

The Sobreiro Monumental (Monumental Cork Oak), also known as The Whistler Tree, is a 236 year old cork oak from Águas de Moura, Palmela, Portugal.[1] It was voted European Tree of the Year in 2018, it has been classified as "Tree of Public Interest" since 1988 and is registered in the Guinness Book of Records as "the largest cork oak in the world".[2]

It is around 16.20NaN0 tall[3] with a circumference at breast height of 4.150NaN0.[4]

It was planted in 1783–1784, at that time the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves reigned by Queen Maria I and, since 1820, it has been harvested over 20 times. 1991 was a particularly prolific year, as it yielded over 12000NaN0 of cork, producing more than 100.000 cork stoppers, more than what an average cork tree would produce in its lifetime.[5]

The name 'Whistler Tree' comes from the whistling sound of the birds that land on its branches.[6]

In 2000 the tree was almost taken down, along with 411 other cork oaks, as an illegal urban expansion took place. By 2001 the law was reformed to better protect the oaks.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Which is the largest and oldest cork oak in the world? . amorim.com . . 31 October 2020.
  2. Web site: Whistler cork oak tree . treeoftheyear.org . 31 October 2020.
  3. Web site: Sobreiro de Águas de Moura premiado como Árvore Europeia do Ano . observador.com . . 31 October 2020.
  4. Web site: "Sobreiro assobiador" de Águas de Moura nomeado para Árvore Europeia do Ano . sicnoticias.pt . . 31 October 2020.
  5. Web site: The World’s Oldest, Largest Cork Tree – The Whistler Tree . vinepair.com . 31 October 2020.
  6. Web site: The world’s oldest and largest cork tree . premiumtours.pt . 31 October 2020.
  7. Web site: Debaixo deste sobreiro há sexo, suicídio, abates e um caçador — e talvez um prémio europeu . observador.pt . . 31 October 2020.