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    Home»Herbs and Spices»Important Facts about Silk Oak
    Herbs and Spices

    Important Facts about Silk Oak

    By SylviaJuly 11, 2021Updated:July 11, 2021No Comments9 Mins Read
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    Silky Oak scientifically known as Grevillea robusta is an agroforestry, timber, flowering and honey tree in the Proteaceae (Protea family). The plant is native to coastal eastern Australia from the Clarence River, New South Wales, to Maryborough, Queensland, and is now naturalized in Hawaii and southern Florida. Its natural range limited to pockets of subtropical forest on the east coast of the continent. Australian silky-oak, he oak, she-oak, silk oak, silky oak, silver oak, southern silky-oak, Fernleaf, Golden pine, silk-oak grevillea, grevillea and river oak are some of the well-known common names of the plant. The genus name Grevillea is named after Charles Francis Greville (1749 – 1809) who helped to establish a society now called the Royal Horticultural Society. The species epithet robusta means large or strong in Latin and it refers to this species’ large growth form. The common name Silky Oak is a reference to the wood which is similar to oak, but has a silk-like texture after being split.

    The tree is often cultivated in the tropics for timber and as a windbreak. It is an ornamental plant, valued particularly for its attractive fern-like foliage and brilliant orange floral display. It is often grown in gardens and as a street tree. The tree flowers freely in subtropical areas, but only poorly in the lowland tropics.

    Silk Oak Facts

    Silk oak Quick Facts
    Name: Silk oak
    Scientific Name: Grevillea robusta
    Origin Coastal eastern Australia from the Clarence River, New South Wales, to Maryborough, Queensland
    Colors Initially green turning to dark brown to near black as they mature
    Shapes Small, flat, pod like, broad, slightly flattened (boat shaped) seedpods about 1.5-2.cm long, about 1 cm broad.
    Health benefits Beneficial for sore throats, earache, chest problems, flu, toothache, headaches and dizziness
    Name Silk oak
    Scientific Name Grevillea robusta
    Native Coastal eastern Australia from the Clarence River, New South Wales, to Maryborough, Queensland, and is now naturalized in Hawaii and southern Florida
    Common Names Australian silky-oak, he oak, she-oak, silk oak, silky oak, silver oak, southern silky-oak, Fernleaf, Golden pine, silk-oak grevillea, grevillea, river oak
    Name in Other Languages Afrikaans: Australiese selwereik, Silwereik
    Arabic: Bilut hariri (بلوط حريري)
    Assamese: Teli-wi
    Australia: River oak, silk oak
    Bengali: Raupasi (ৰূপসী)
    Brazil: Carvalho-sedoso, grevílea-gigante, grevilha-robusta
    Burmese: Khadaw hmi
    Chinese: Yín huà (银桦)
    Cuba: Roble plateado
    Danish: Bregnetræ, Bregnegrevillea
    Dominican Republic: Helecho
    Dutch: Australische zilvereik
    English: Australian silky-oak, Silk-oak, Silky oak, Silver oak, Southern silky-oak, silk-bark oak
    Finnish: Kultasilkkipuu
    French: Chêne d’Australie, grévillée robuste, grevillaire, fougère en arbre
    Germany: Silberstrauch, Australischer, australische Silbereiche, australischer Silberstrauch
    Hawaiian: Ha‘iku ke‘oke‘o, oka-kilika,haiku-keokeo
    Hebrew: גרווילאה חסונה
    Hindi: Silver oak
    Honduras: Gravilea
    Indonesia/Java: Salamander
    Italy: Grevillea
    Japanese: Shinobunoki (シノブノキ), Shirukīōku (シルキーオーク)
    Javanese: Salamandar
    Kannada: Silvar mara (ಸಿಲ್ವರ್ ಮರ)
    Kinyarwanda: Gereveliya
    Malayalam: Silvar ōkk (സിൽവർ ഓക്ക്)
    Manipuri: Koubilia (কৌবীলিযা)
    Ndebele: Kangiyo
    Nepali: Kangiyo (काँगियो)
    Persian: بلوط ابریشمی
    Portuguese: Grevilea, Grevilha, Grevílea-de-jardim, Grevílea-vermelha, Grevílea, carvalho-sedoso
    Puerto Rico: Roble de seda
    Russian: Grevilleya krupnaya (Гревиллея крупная)
    Spanish: Velika grevilka, Grevillea, pino rojo, roble australiano, roble de pelota, roble sedoso, pino australiano, agravilla, helecho , roble de seda
    Swahili: Mgrivea, mukima
    Swedish: Silvergrevillea
    Tamil: Malaic cavukku (மலைச் சவுக்கு), Chavukku (சவுக்கு) Maram (மரம்) Savukku-maram
    Tanzania: Mgrivea
    Thai: Son-india
    Tongan: ʻOke
    Ukrainian: Hrevileya mohutnya (Гревілея могутня)
    Urdu: Bekkar, bahekar
    USA: Lacewood
    USA/Hawaii: Haiku-keokeo, oka-kilika
    Plant Growth Habit Erect, fast-growing, single-stemmed, medium-sized to large evergreen tree
    Growing Climates Forest edges, coastal forests, disturbed sites, savannah and riparian areas, subtropical rainforest, dry rainforest and wet forests
    Soil Tolerant of a wide range of soils if they are well drained. It will grow on neutral to strongly acid soils but does best on those that are slightly acid
    Plant Size 35 m (114 ft.) in its natural habitat, though elsewhere it is more typically 15 to 25 m (50 to 80 ft.) tall. Bole is straight, branchless for up to 15 m, up to 80 (max. 120) cm in diameter
    Crown Crown is conical and symmetrical with major branches spaced at intervals of about 1 m
    Bark Bark on the trunk is dark grey and furrowed into a lace-like pattern. Inner bark reddish-brown
    Branchlets Young branchlets are angular and ridged, sub sericeous to tomentose but glabrous on older growth
    Leaf Alternate, fernlike, pinnately or almost bipinnately compound, 15-30 cm long and 9–15 cm wide, exstipulate with 11–31 primary lobes
    Flowering season September to November
    Flower Showy, yellowish, numerous, paired, on long slender stalks 1-2 cm, composed of 4 narrow yellow or orange sepals 12 mm long. Flower clusters are 7.5-15 cm long, unbranched, arising mostly from the trunk, in a terminal or axillary simple or branched raceme, protandrous
    Fruit Shape & Size Small, flat, pod like, broad, slightly flattened (boat shaped) seedpods about 1.5-2.cm long, about 1 cm broad
    Fruit Color Initially green turning to dark brown to near black as they mature
    Seed 1-1.5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm broad, broadly winged, thin, ovate, non-endospermic with a brown, ovate central seed body
    Propagation By seed and cuttings
    Precautions
    • This species has occasionally caused contact dermatitis following contact with the foliage or sawdust.

    Plant Description

    Silk oak is an erect, fast-growing, single-stemmed, and medium-sized to large evergreen tree that normally grows about 35 m (114 ft.) in its natural habitat, though elsewhere it is more typically 15 to 25 m (50 to 80 ft.) tall. Bole is straight, branchless for up to 15 m, up to 80 (max. 120) cm in diameter, usually without buttresses. Crown is conical and symmetrical with major branches spaced at intervals of about 1 m. Bark on the trunk is dark grey and furrowed into a lace-like pattern. Inner bark is reddish-brown. Young branchlets are angular and ridged, sub sericeous to tomentose but glabrous on older growth.

    The plant is found growing in forest edges, coastal forests, disturbed sites, savannah and riparian areas, subtropical rainforest, dry rainforest and wet forests. It adapts to various environmental conditions and is found between 500 and 2000m altitude where annual rainfall ranges from 800 to 1500mm. The plant is tolerant of a wide range of soils if they are well drained. It will grow on neutral to strongly acid soils but does best on those that are slightly acid.

    Leaves

    Leaves are alternate, fernlike, pinnately or almost bipinnately compound, 15-30 cm long and 9–15 cm wide, exstipulate with 11–31 primary lobes. Lobes are entire or divided, ultimate lobes 0.5–5 cm long and 0.2–1 cm wide. Upper surface is shiny dark green and hairless, while lower surface is silky with whitish or ash colored hairs with recurved margins. Petiole is 1.5–7 cm long. They remain on the tree where the dry season is short but fall where it is long or pronounced, leaving the branches mostly bare for a short period, just before flowering.

    Leaf arrangement Alternate
    Leaf type Odd-pinnately compound; made up of 7-19 leaflets
    Leaf margin Parted, revolute
    Leaf shape Lanceolate
    Leaf venation Pinnate
    Leaf type and persistence Evergreen
    Leaf blade length 6 to 13 inches; leaflets are 1 to 4 inches
    Leaf color Green on top, silvery white underneath
    Fall color No color change
    Fall characteristic Not showy

     

    Flower

    Flowers are showy, yellowish, numerous, paired, on long slender stalks 1-2 cm, composed of 4 narrow yellow or orange sepals 12 mm long. Flower clusters are 7.5-15 cm long, unbranched, arising mostly from the trunk, in a terminal or axillary simple or branched raceme, protandrous, petals 4, united into a tube that is mostly recurved under the broadened apex (limb); stamens 4, sessile in the concave limb; disk annular or semiannular, sometimes bilobed; ovary superior, 1-locular with 2 ovules, style curved and protruding from a slit in the perianth tube, the apex free from the limb, eventually straight, persistent. They bloom in perfusion from spring to early summer, with the most striking displays seen on near leafless trees.

    Flower color Yellow orange
    Flower characteristics Showy; emerges on one side of a raceme
    Flowering Spring

     

    Fruit

    Fertile flower are followed by small, flat, pod like, broad, slightly flattened (boat shaped) seedpods about 1.5-2.cm long, about 1 cm broad. They are initially green turning to dark brown to near black as they mature with long slender stalk and long, threadlike, curved style. Seeds 1-1.5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm broad, broadly winged, thin, ovate, non-endospermic with a brown, ovate central seed body.

    Fruit shape Unknown
    Fruit length ½–¾ inch
    Fruit covering Dry or hard
    Fruit color Silvery gray to brown
    Fruit characteristics Does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

     

    Leaves-of-Silk-oak Leaves-of-Silk- oak
    Closer-view-of-flowers-of-Silk-oak Closer-view-of-flowers-of-Silk-oak
    Flowers-of-Silk-oak Flowers-of-Silk-oak
    Mature-Silk-oak-fruits-on-the-tree Mature-Silk-oak-fruits-on-the-tree
    Bark-of-Silk-oak Bark-of-Silk-oak
    Flowering-branches-of-Silk-oak Flowering-branches-of-Silk-oak
    Silk-oak-tree Silk-oak-tree
    Sketch-of-Silk-oak Sketch-of-Silk-oak
    Timber-wood-of-Silk-oak Timber-wood-of-Silk-oak
    Plant-illustration-of-Silk-oak Plant-illustration-of-Silk-oak
    Seeds-of-Silk-oak Seeds-of-Silk-oak
    Unripe-fruits-of-Silk-oak Unripe-fruits-of-Silk-oak
    Stamen-and-pistil-of-Silk-oak Stamen-and-pistil-of-Silk-oak
    Ventral-view-of-leaf-of-Silk-oak Ventral-view-of-leaf-of-Silk-oak
    Trunk-of-Silk-oak Trunk-of-Silk-oak
    Silk oak Image Gallery

    Traditional uses and benefits of Silk oak

    • In Kenya, natives of the Kakamega Forest use the plant to treat sore throats, earache, chest problems, flu and toothache.
    • In North Garo Hills, Meghalaya, NE India, bark and leaves used for headaches and dizziness.

    Culinary Uses

    • The flowers are one of the richest sources of nectar.
    • This can be sucked directly from the flowers, shaken into a bowl or washed out in a small quantity of water.
    • The nectar falls in showers when the flowers are shaken.

    Other Facts

    • The plant yields small quantities of a gum resin.
    • Leaves consist of rutin, though quantities are not specified.
    • Intense yellow and green dyes are obtained from the leaves.
    • This tree is one of the most important re-afforestation trees in Nepal.
    • It is sometimes used as a rootstock for the more susceptible species.
    • Wood is used for paneling, joinery, cabinet making etc.
    • It is considered a good fuel.
    • The leaves are also used as mulch.
    • It is very popular in agroforestry systems and often planted to provide shade for tea and coffee plantations.
    • Trees usually begin to flower at about 10 years.
    • There are reported to be 64,000 to 154,000 seeds per kilogram (29,000 to 70,000/lb.).
    • It is regarded as a weed in parts of New South Wales and Victoria, as invasive in Hawaii and as an invader in South Africa.
    • Silk oak timber was extensively used for external window joinery, as it is resistant to wood rot.
    • It has been used in the manufacture of furniture, cabinetry, and fences.
    • In the UK, Silk oak has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
    • It is grown in plantations in South Africa, and can also be grown alongside maize in agroforestry systems.
    • Wood is used in making railroad ties, plywood, air-freight cases and furniture, parquetry, turnery, boat building, interior trim, cabinet work, parquet flooring, boxes, toys and novelties.
    • The golden flowers are attractive to bees, making it an important honey plant.

    References:

    https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=27783#null

    http://www.hear.org/pier/species/grevillea_robusta.htm

    https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Grevillea+robusta

    https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/25866

    https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/grevillea/robusta.htm

    https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=GRRO

    https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST285

    https://gd.eppo.int/taxon/GRERO

    http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2832700

    https://indiabiodiversity.org/species/show/229827

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grevillea_robusta

    https://www.iplantz.com/plant/791/grevillea-robusta/

    http://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/AFTPDFS/Grevillea_robusta.PDF

    http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Silver%20Oak.html

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    Silk Oak Scientific Classification

    Scientific Name: Grevillea robusta

    Rank Scientific Name & (Common Name)
    Kingdom Plantae (Plants)
    Subkingdom Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
    Infrakingdom Streptophyta  (land plants)
    Superdivision Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
    Division Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
    Sub Division Spermatophytina  (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
    Class Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
    Subclass Rosidae
    Super Order Proteanae
    Order Proteales
    Family Proteaceae (Protea family)
    Genus Grevillea R. Br. ex Knight (grevillea)
    Species Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. (silkoak)
    Synonyms
    • Grevillea robusta A.Cunn., 1830
    • Grevillea robusta var. compacta hort.
    • Grevillea robusta var. compacta hort. ex Anon.
    • Grevillea umbratica A.Cunn.
    • Grevillea umbratica A.Cunn. ex Meisn.
    • Grevillea venusta A.Cunn.
    • Grevillea venusta A.Cunn. ex Meisn.
    • Hakea robusta (A.Cunn. ex R.Br.) Christenh. & M.W.Chase
    • Stylurus robusta (A.Cunn.) O.Deg.
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