10 Trees in Don Quixote

The holm oak is one of the most commonly featured plants in Cervantes' novel. For example, it appears in chapter four of Volume One of Don Quixote. Countless times, Don Quixote is found resting in the shade of an oak tree with his faithful squire.

As was common in the region of Castile, Cervantes referred to elm trees as álamos, meaning poplars. This is how this tree appears in chapter 51 of Volume 1: “He used to seat himself on a bench under the great poplar in our plaza …”

Poplars, like willow trees, are characteristic of riverbanks. Although they are two different species, Cervantes uses the two names interchangeably in chapter 29 of Volume 2: "... and tie both beasts securely to the trunk of a poplar or willow that stood there."

In chapter 28 of Volume 1, Cervantes refers to one of the most commonly found species in southern Spain: the olive tree. “Through my hands passed the accounts and returns of what was sown and reaped; the oil-mills …”

The yew tree is associated with funeral rites, and it appears in this context in this passage in Cervantes' novel, in chapter 13 of Volume 1: "and crowned with garlands which, as afterwards appeared, were, some of them of yew …"

The fruit of the walnut tree, the walnut, is high in calories and known for its digestive properties, as mentioned (and somewhat exaggerated) by Sancho in chapter 62 of Volume 2: "… we two are used to live for a week on a handful of acorns or nuts."

In the Sierra Morena, where chapter 20 of Don Quixote takes place, chestnut trees can be found in the highest regions, as well as in valleys and damp shaded areas: "… and Don Quixote saw that he was among some tall trees, chestnuts, which cast a very deep shade."

The cork tree grows in the south west of the Iberian Peninsula, and may have appeared in the lands through which Don Quixote traveled. An example appears in chapter 11 of Volume 1: “The mighty cork trees … shed the broad light bark that served at first to roof the houses supported by rude stakes."

Laurel symbolizes victory, and was used to crown competition winners and poets in classical antiquity. Cervantes refers to the laurel in this way in chapter 22 of Volume 2: "The fair woman who is a woman of honor, and whose husband is poor, deserves to be crowned with the laurels and palms of victory and triumph."

Fig trees are typical of Mediterranean countries. In chapter 61 of Volume 1, Cervantes refers to the tree in the following way: "… he thought it well to make, as he did, a voyage to a place called Shershel, 20 leagues from Algiers on the Oran side, where there is an extensive trade in dried figs …"