The cork tree or cork oak is the tree from which cork is extracted.
When reviewing the etymology of alcorque , we find that the closest antecedent of the term is alqúrq , a word from Hispanic Arabic. This word, in turn, comes from the Aramaic qurqā or qarqā .
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) recognizes two meanings of tree pit, one linked to footwear and the other to botany . Furthermore, the concept allows colloquial naming of different types of trees .
The tree pit as a galosh
The first meaning mentioned by the RAE refers to a galosh that has a cork sole . The idea of chanclo , meanwhile, can refer to a type of sandal that is placed under footwear to provide protection against mud and humidity; to a large shoe into which the shod foot enters; or the lower part of certain footwear.
Before moving forward, it is interesting to note that chanclo comes from chanca , which is derived from chancla : a slipper with a bent heel or without a heel that is used at home or a summer shoe attached to the foot with straps between the toes or the instep.
Completing the analysis of this use of tree pits, we must remember that sandals are a type of footwear made up of a sole secured with ribbons or straps. The tree pit, then, is a galosh or sandal whose sole is made of cork (a plant tissue found in sectors of the roots, branches and trunk).
different trees
At this point we can detail which species of trees are called, in colloquial language , the tree tree. Cork is obtained from one of them, already mentioned as a material for the soles of galoshes or sandals.
Quercus suber is the tree also called Mediterranean cork oak , which usually lives for about two centuries and whose bark stands out for its great thickness. The cork tree or cork oak is cultivated in Tunisia , Morocco , Algeria , France , Portugal , Spain and Italy , for example.
Tree trees are grown in several African and European countries, for example.
The cork is extracted manually every a certain number of years, linked above all to the use that will be given to the material. Bottle stoppers, linings, insulators and the aforementioned soles are some of the products that can be made with cork.
Quercus petrae , on the other hand, is referred to as cork, winter oak or sessile oak . It usually grows on the foothills and slopes of mountains .
Tree pit, a key structure for tree growth
A structure known as a cajete or tree pit can be created around a tree, whose purpose is to facilitate the storage of rainwater or irrigation water. The tree pit can be a hole that is dug in the ground or, on a paved surface, an area that is kept unpaved.
In an urban environment, thus, the tree pit is the space around the trunk of the tree . It is usually bounded by concrete or stone .
What the tree tree does is guarantee the growth and subsistence of the plant species in a paved environment. It serves to guarantee the tree's natural space, retain water, prevent roots from breaking the pavement as they grow, and minimize pedestrian falls.
When defining the dimensions of the tree pit, you should think about how much the tree will grow. You have to consider the size that the trunk will reach in the future: a tree that is too small can end the life of the plant.