殼斗科
學名:Quercus variabilis Blume
英名:Chinese Cork Oak、Cork Oak
別名:軟木櫟、猴櫟、綿櫟、大葉櫟、粗皮櫟、老櫟、花櫟、粗皮青剛、厚殼仔
櫟屬落葉喬木,原產東亞,臺灣亦有分佈。主幹樹皮灰褐色,不規則縱向溝裂,木栓層厚而軟。葉革質,長橢圓狀卵形至闊披針形,芒尖鋸齒緣;下表面灰白色,被星狀短毛。雌雄同株異花,雄花的葇荑花序生長於剛長出來的枝條基部;雌花多生長於新枝條葉腋或無葉枝條上,有短梗。花期在4月間。殼斗杯狀,由線狀鱗片組成,線狀鱗片伸張或反捲;堅果近球形或卵形,先端有尖突。果實於11~12月間成熟。
An evergreen tree in the genus Quercus, endemic to Taiwan. Bark gray and white, prominently cracked; twigs elongated, with yellow or yellow-brown trichomes when young, and turning smooth and glabrous with age. Leaves ovate, oblong, oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, leathery or thin leathery, awnlike serrations on the margin, smooth and glabrous on the upper surface, and covered with yellow pilose and white powder beneath when young. Male catkins mostly axillary at the branch tips, and the female inflorescences bear 6 to 7 flowers; flowering from April to June. Acorn oval, apex round, hilum protruded, base truncated; cupule cup-shaped and covering a half of the acorn, irregularly edged, fluffy. Fruiting from September to October of the following year.
喜強日照,以富含有機質排水良好的土壤為佳。種子繁殖。
The plant prefers strong direct sun and well-drained soils rich in organic matters. Reproduced by seeds.
可作庭園景觀樹。樹皮是製作軟木塞的材料。種子富含澱粉,可釀酒或作飼料。殼斗含鞣質,可作染料或提取拷膠。木材紋理平直,結構較粗,可供建築、車輛等使用。樹幹可作為栽培香菇的段木。
It can be used as garden landscape tree. An important food supply for a variety of butterflies. The hard wood is commonly used in load-bearing structure and making agricultural tools. The fruits can be used as decorative objects.