Quercus suber is one of the most abundant plant species nationwide.
The cork oak is one of the most important forest trees of Portugal. While common throughout the country, covering around 737 000 hectares of land, the plant specimen is seen more frequently, "south of the Tagus where it comes in the form of assembled and sporadically in the North. It occupies large plantations in the western part of the Alentejo, the river Tagus and Earth Hot Trás-os-Montes. It is often associated with Holm oak and cistus, but also exists in their own forests, where is only one dwelling species. It is a tree that can live to be 300 years, due in part to its high tolerance in climates with periods of scarce rainfall and because it thrives in any soil type.
The "cork forest "as "the Holm oak mounts" are usually in association with another crop or pasture. There is also in mixed stands with oaks. It also offers a good soil and is an invaluable ally in the fight against fires due to its poor coverage undergrowth. The cork oak forests are also a great economic value: the glans are used for pigs food, wood to make charcoal burned directly or ultimately and the inner bark where the tannins are extracted, "as outlined the site trees in Portugal. In ecological terms the cork is of vital importance, for serving as a shelter to numerous animals, especially insects and plants: mosses, lichens and even microscopic algae. Its commercial value is also important. From it, derive also a range of industrial products vital for the world economy, thus making our country one of the world's largest exporters of this commodity.
Ongoing is a national petition to classify the oak tree as a national of Portugal. An act intended to give greater visibility to this specimen plant that has been declining in the territory, due to human pressure, although it is a protected tree.
http://arvoresdeportugal.free.fr/IndexArborium/FichaSobreiroQuercussuber1.htm
