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Loseto is an ancient medieval village with narrow alleys, a castle and a cathedral; it’s actually a district on the outskirts of Bari, 6 miles away from it. The Southern live oak of Loseto belongs to the group of large secular trees in Conca di Bari. In times of war and famine, the acorns of this oak were also eaten by the peasants, so much so that this species was also referred to as the “Chestnut oak”.

Quercus virgiliana

-biology and ecology

This species is distributed in South-Eastern Europe, typical of dry woods and usually growing on poorly acid soils and at different altitudes up to 3.608 ft.

-distribution

This species is linked to South-East Europe chorology. In Italy, it is very common throughout the whole territory, but it doesn’t grow in the Po River Valley and in other alluvial plains.
However, it is often found as a crossbreed with other oak species.

-Importance and use

The useful active ingredients come from the bark of young branches, leaves and acorns;
They have antiseptic, astringent, febrifugal, and tonic properties.

Oakwood is used as a fuel. The plant has astringent and hemostatic properties.
Acorns are sweet and, in the past, were used not only for feeding pigs but also, to make a kind of acorn bread for the peasants.

Photo source: www.barinedita.it

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)