Kermes Oak / بلوط / سِنديان /

بَلْخ / قِرْمِز /

Quercus coccifera L.

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Edibility and usage

Edibility
Edible
Edible part
  • Acorns
Preparation
  • Grinded
  • Roasted
Blooming period
February to April
Foraging period
September to October
Seed collection period
September to December
Potential medicinal uses
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Hepatic
  • Hypotensive
  • Nervine
  • Tonic
  • Vulnerary

Description

Perenniality
Perennial
Petal colour
  • Green
Leaf type
  • Entire
Life form
  • Phanerophyte shrub
  • Tree

Scientifc data

Genus
Quercus
Family
Fagaceae
Wikidata item
Q158178
GBIF Item
Quercus coccifera L. (2879175)
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least concern

References

  1. Sattout E., Zahreddine H. (2013). Native Trees of Lebanon and Neighboring Countries: A Guidebook for Professionals and Amateurs. Beirut: Notre Dame University - Louaize Press.
  2. عراف، ش.،عمر،ر.،اسعد، ص.(1995).مساهمة في دراسة نباتات البلاد(الحلقة الاولى).ترشيحا:مركز الدراسات القروية.(عربي)
  3. Quercus coccifera L. in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2022-03-23.
  4. Zohary, Michael. Flora Palaestina. Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, 1972.
  5. عراف، شكري. النباتات في الكتاب المقدس. عكا: مركز الدراسات القروية، 2009.
  6. Temple, Augusta A. Flowers & Trees of Palestine. Society for promoting Christian knowledge, 1929.
  7. Crowfoot, Grace Mary Hood. From Cedar to Hyssop; a Study in the Folklore of Plants in Palestine. London, Sheldon Press; New York and Toronto, The Macmillan Co., 1932.
  8. Fernley-Pearson, Thomas. Agroforestry for Palestine. Bustan Qaraaqa Publications, 2010.
  9. Ali-Shtayeh, Mohammed S., Rana M. Jamous, Jehan H. Al-Shafie’, Wafa’ A. Elgharabah, Fatemah A. Kherfan, Kifayeh H. Qarariah, Isra’ S. Khdair, et al. “Traditional Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants Used in Palestine (Northern West Bank): A Comparative Study.”
  10. Zohary, Michael. “A Vegetation Map of Western Palestine.” The Journal of Ecology, 1947, 1–19.
  11. Dallman, Peter R. Plant Life in the World’s Mediterranean Climates: California, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and the Mediterranean Basin. University of California Press, 1998.

Citation

Quercus coccifera L. in Barari platform (2025). Barari Flora Taxonomy. https://barari.org/species/607 accessed via barari.org on 12/26/2025.

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Disclaimer: Barari takes no responsibility whatsoever for any adverse health effects due to the consumption or other use of any plant described in this guide. It is intended to provide general information only. Check with your healthcare provider before using wild plants to treat any medical condition. Before consuming any wild plants, you should be absolutely certain of their identification. Seek expert advice and use at least two reputable field guides to confirm the identification of a species. Be extremely cautious about look-alike and poisonous species.

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