Tanbark is the

bark Bark may refer to: * Bark (botany), an outer layer of a woody plant such as a tree or stick * Bark (sound), a vocalization of some animals (which is commonly the dog) Places * Bark, Germany * Bark, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland Arts, e ...

of certain species of trees, traditionally used for tanning hides into leather. The words "

tannin Tannins (or tannoids) are a class of astringent, polyphenolic biomolecules that bind to and precipitate proteins and various other organic compounds including amino acids and alkaloids. The term ''tannin'' (from Anglo-Norman ''tanner'', ...

", " tanning", " tan," and " tawny" are derived from the Medieval Latin ''tannare'', "to convert into leather."

Bark mill Bark mills, also known as Catskill's mills, are water, steam, horse, ox or wind-powered edge mills used to process the bark, roots, and branches of various tree species into a fine powder known as tanbark, used for tanning leather. This powder ...

s are horse- or oxen-driven or water-powered

edge mill An edge mill is a mill used for crushing or grinding in which stones roll around on their edges on a level circular bed. They were developed in China in the third century and are still used today in remote villages around the world. When the mil ...

s and were used in earlier times to shred the tanbark to derive tannins for the leather industry. A "barker" was a person who stripped bark from trees to supply bark mills.

Tanbark around the world

Holford, waterwheel at Combe House Hotel - geograph

In Europe, oak is a common source of tanbark. Quercitannic acid is the chief constituent found in oak barks. The bark is taken from young branches and twigs in oak

coppice Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management which exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down. In a coppiced wood, which is called a copse, young tree stems are repeate ...

s and can be up to 4 mm thick; it is grayish-brown on the outside and brownish-red on the inner surface. In some areas of the United States, such as northern California, "mulch" is often called tanbark, even by manufacturers and distributors. In these areas, the word "mulch" may refer to

peat moss ''Sphagnum'' is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as sphagnum moss, peat moss, also bog moss and quacker moss (although that term is also sometimes used for peat). Accumulations of ''Sphagnum'' can store wa ...

or to very fine tanbark. In California, ''

Notholithocarpus densiflorus ''Notholithocarpus densiflorus'', commonly known as the tanoak or tanbark-oak, is a broadleaf tree in the family Fagaceae, and the type species of the genus ''Notholithocarpus''. It is native to the far western United States, particularly Oregon ...

'' (commonly known as the ''tanoak'' or ''tanbark-oak'') was used. In America,

condensed tannin Condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins, polyflavonoid tannins, catechol-type tannins, pyrocatecollic type tannins, non-hydrolyzable tannins or flavolans) are polymers formed by the condensation of flavans. They do not contain sugar residues. They ...

s are also present in the bark of blackjack oak (''

Quercus marilandica ''Quercus marilandica'', the blackjack oak, is a small oak, one of the red oak group ''Quercus'' sect. ''Lobatae''. It is native to the eastern and central United States. Description ''Quercus marilandica'' is a small deciduous tree growing to ...

''). In

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * ...

, on the slopes of

Mount Tremper Mount Tremper, officially known as Tremper Mountain and originally called Timothyberg, is one of the Catskill Mountains in the U.S. state of New York. It is located near the hamlet of Phoenicia, in the valley of Esopus Creek. At in elevation, ...

, hemlock bark was a major source of tanbark during the 19th century. Around the Mediterranean Sea, sumach (''

Rhus coriaria ''Rhus coriaria'', commonly called Sicilian sumac, tanner's sumach, or elm-leaved sumach, is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the cashew family Anacardiaceae. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The dried fruits are used as a spi ...

'') leaves and bark are used. In Africa and Australia,

acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as the wattles or acacias, is a large genus of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa and Australasia. The genus nam ...

(called "wattle") bark is used by tanners. One ton of wattle or mimosa bark produces about 150 lbs of pure

.''The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge'', Vol II (1847), Charles Knight, London, p.873. Used tanbark is employed in horticulture and spread on flower beds and in glass houses to keep down weeds and protect plant roots. File:EichenLoheSchaeler1.jpg, Tool to recover bark from oak branches File:Schleissen 1.jpg, Recovery of bark from oak branches File:Schleissen 2.jpg, Another view of the process File:Oakbark.jpg, The bark of an oak tree File:Young red oak bark.jpg, Young red oak bark

References

External links

{{Non-timber forest products Tanning (leather) Non-timber forest products

Tanbark around the world

See also

References

External links