Quercus Coccifera - Uses

Uses

The Kermes Oak was historically important as the food plant of the Kermes scale insect, from which a red dye called crimson was obtained. The etymology of the specific name 'coccifera' is related to the production of red cochineal (crimson) dye and derived from a diminutive of Latin coccinus which was from Greek kokkinos (= the kermes bug). The Latin -fera means 'bearer'.