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 Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hog ...

. 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 Medieval Latin was the form of Literary Latin used in Roman Catholic Western Europe during the Middle Ages. In this region it served as the primary written language, though local languages were also written to varying degrees. Latin functioned ...

''tannare'', "to convert into leather." Bark mills are horse- or oxen-driven or water-powered edge mills 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 coppices 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 California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, "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

, '' Notholithocarpus densiflorus'' (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''). 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, hemlock bark was a major source of tanbark during the 19th century. Around the

Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on ...

, sumach ('' Rhus coriaria'') 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