Sobreiro Monumental
The Whistler Tree on January 2018
SpeciesCork oak (Quercus suber)
LocationÁguas de Moura, Palmela, Portugal
Coordinates38°35′12″N 8°41′28″W / 38.58659°N 8.69098°W / 38.58659; -8.69098
Date seeded1784
CustodianInstituto 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][3]

It is around 16.2 m (53 ft) tall[3] with a circumference at breast height of 4.15 m (14 ft).[1][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 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) of cork, producing more than 100.000 cork stoppers, more than what an average cork tree would produce in its lifetime.[1][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

References

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