Farnia is a large deciduous tree renowned for its majestic size and posture, known for millennia. Recognized for its lobed leaves and acorn production, oaks are trees widespread in the Mediterranean basin and also in Central Europe, where vast oak forests can still be found.
The wood of the oak is well-known for its technological characteristics, used to obtain beams and construction lumber, flooring, and roofing shingles. This wood is compact, easy to work with, and characterized by the presence of tannins, substances that enhance its durability, providing remarkable resistance to decay. Oak staves are also used for crafting barrels (barriques), and it is known for imparting vanilla notes to wine.
Acorns were once a significant food source for both humans (acorn bread) and animals. Another product of the oak is "galls," which are woody or soft spherical growths produced by insect bites transmitting substances that increase the proliferation of plant cells. Galls were historically used to extract tannins and dyes for tanning and coloring leather. Some spongy galls were dried and used as wicks in lamps.
A large oak tree is a microcosm of life: the large size of its branches and their breadth, combined with its longevity, the abundance of food it provides, the availability of shade, and the cavities in its trunk, allow the existence of numerous animal species, from birds to insects to small rodents, from fungi to epiphytic plants. Both Greek and Roman mythology also richly feature the oak. One notable myth involves Demeter, who, in the guise of a nymph (Nicippe), defended the sacred grove dedicated to her from the Pelasgians, and Erisichthon, who, leading a group of companions, began to cut down the sacred oaks. He was condemned to suffer perpetual hunger, even if he ate.
In Norse mythology, the oak was dedicated to Thor, the god of thunder and lightning. Oaks are also present in the mythologies of the Lithuanians, Estonians, Slavs, and Belarusians. In the Celtic calendar, the oak gave its name to the month in which the summer solstice occurred.
A Sardinian legend, The fable of the oak and the devil, recounts that one day, the devil asked God to be able to rule something on Earth. The Lord replied that he could rule over the woods but only when all the trees were without leaves. The trees in the forest, concerned, sought advice from the great oak. It replied that it would take care of it, holding onto its leaves, albeit dry, until the other plants had sprouted again. In this way, nothing could be dominated on Earth by the devil. (Oaks, along with hornbeams, retain leaves on the tree until the buds swell, which normally occurs later than in other trees.)
It is a slow-growing but very long-lived plant, with known specimens reaching around 1000 years of age, and the oldest known specimen surpassing 1500 years.
