2017-12-01

Gehölz - Oak (Original Mix)



or how about the, "Oak", (a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus Latin oak tree, of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 600 extant species of oaks. The common name oak also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus stone oak, as well as in those of unrelated species such as Grevillea robusta silky oaks and the Casuarinaceae she-oaks. The genus Quercus is native to the Northern Hemisphere, and includes deciduous and evergreen species extending from cool temperate to tropical latitudes in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. North America contains the largest number of oak species, with approximately 90 occurring in the United States, while Mexico has 160 species of which 109 are endemic. The second greatest centre of oak diversity is China, which contains approximately 100 species, Throughout the major cultures of Europe the oak tree has been held in high esteem. To the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes the oak was foremost amongst venerated trees, and in each case associated with the supreme god in their pantheon, oak being sacred to Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun and Thor, respectively. Each of these gods also had dominion over rain, thunder and lightning, and it is surely no coincidence that oak trees appear to be more prone to lightning strikes than other trees, whether because of their wood's low electrical resistance or the fact that they were frequently the largest, tallest living things in the landscape. The Druids frequently worshipped and practised their rites in oak groves (the word Druid was probably a Gaelic derivation of their word for oak, Duir, and meant men of the oaks). Mistletoe, probably the Druids' most potent and magical plant, frequently grew on oak trees and its presence was believed to indicate the hand of God having placed it there in a lightning strike. Ancient kings presented themselves as the personifications of these gods, taking on the responsibility not only for success in battle but also the fertility of the land, which relied on rainfall. They wore crowns of oak leaves, as a symbol of the god they represented as kings on Earth. Similarly, successful Roman commanders were presented with crowns of oak leaves during their victory parades, and oak leaves have continued as decorative icons of military prowess to the present day. Oak leaves' connection with rainfall also survived in more recent folklore in a variety of similar rhymes about which tree's leaves appeared first, such as the Irish saying:
If the oak before the ash,
Then we'll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we'll surely have a soak!
The spiritual appreciation of oak did not cease with the advent of Christianity, however, although many oak groves were supplanted by early Christian churches. St. Columba was said to have had a fondness and respect for oak trees and to have been reluctant to fell them, though his early chapel on Iona was constructed of oak from the nearby Mull oakwoods. St. Brendan was divinely inspired to use oak boards instead of traditional hides to cover his coracle, which legend says may have carried him to the New World some thousand years before Columbus, In Greek mythology, the oak is the tree sacred to Zeus, king of the gods. In Zeus's oracle in Dodona, Epirus, the sacred oak was the centrepiece of the precinct, and the priests would divine the pronouncements of the god by interpreting the rustling of the oak's leaves. Oak trees are a common tree with hundreds of applications. Oak trees produce acorns that can be used in certain foods and beverages, wood that is used in various types of construction and even in the aging of wine. Chances are you've encountered something made of oak at some point in your life.Various species of oak wood are commonly used in household furniture like tables, chairs, cabinets, bookcases and other miscellaneous storage units because of its appealing look and sturdy composition. Many households have wood flooring made of oak and oak lumber is often produced for other construction projects.Natural Medicine, Certain oak bark has positive medical properties used to treat a variety of health conditions. White oak is often included in creams because it contains calcium, zinc, iron and vitamin B12, according to Learning Info. Tea made from white oak bark has also been said to aid in curing gallstones and kidney stones as well Wine barrels are often made up of oak wood—most notably white oak. The wine ages in these barrels while the oak wood enhances its flavor. Cork oak is the type of wood used to seal wine bottles as, standardz, hahahahaha, :) #edio

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