Guide Note

The term Oak can apply to any of the several hundred species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus native to the Northern hemisphere.

Oaks are long-lived, grow relatively slowly and produce hardwood commonly used in building and fabricating.

Characteristics

Oak trees begin producing their fruit, acorns, when they are 20-50 years old and do so once a year during the autumn months. They also produce small flowers, known as catkins, during the spring.

The leaves of the oak tree are arranged spirally, oval in shape and have rounded, lobed margin.

The Oak's bark is gray, deeply fissured, and often home to various species of moss and lichen

Fast Facts

1. 80 species are native to North America
2. Oak trees can live up to 1,000 years
3. A member of the beech family
4. Can reach a height of 40 meters
5. It is not unusual for oak trees to be wider than they are tall