[Sp. alcornoque, f. Arab. al the + quern oco spongy oak (Diez).]
Spanish name of the cork-oak, the young bark of which is employed in tanning under the name of European or Spanish Alcornoque bark. Extended in Spanish America to various trees yielding a similar product (American Alcornoque), esp. Bowdichia virgilioides, and species of Byrsonima; formerly also used in medicine.
[1823. Humboldt, Nova Genera, VI. 376. Bowdichia virgilioides, Alcornoco incolarum.]
1832. G. Don, Gen. Syst., II. 464. Bowdichia: At the mouth of the Orinoco where it is commonly called Alcornoque.
1866. Treas. Bot., 35. Alcornoco or Alcornoque Bark, the bark of several species of Byrsonima; the Alcornoque of Spain is the bark of the cork-tree. Ibid., 161. Bowdichia: The bark is of a reddish brown colour, and is known as Alcornoco bark.
1873. Bentley, Man. Bot., 459. The bark [of Bowdichia] with that of one or more species of Byrsonima is said to form the American Alcornoco or Alcornoque Bark of commerce.
