Tree Facts:
Oaks have spirally arranged leaves, with a lobed margin in many species;
some have serrated leaves or entire leaves with a smooth margin. The flowers are catkins, produced in spring. The fruit is a nut called an acorn, blooming in a cup-like structure known as a cupule; each acorn contains one seed and takes 6-18 months to mature, depending on the species. Oak trees adapt to the seasons in a very obvious way. In the summer the trees are at their peak, fully grown and fully in blossom. Then in the autumn, the leaves start turning pretty colours. In the winter all of the leaves on the trees are shed leaving a bare, rotting stump of wood. Things turn pretty again in the spring when the trees start reblossomng again. Oaks are hardwood trees, and the wood is commonly used in furniture and flooring. Some European and American oak species are used to make barrels where wine and other spirits are aged; the barrels, which are in some cases charred before use, contribute to the taste, aroma, and color of the contents. The bark of the White Oak is dried and used in medical preparations. Oak bark is also rich in tannin, and is used by tanners for tanning leather. Acorns are used for making flour or roasted for acorn coffee. The oak is a common symbol of strength and endurance, and has been chosen as the national tree of England, France, Germany and the United States. In classical mythology the oak was a symbol of Zeus and his sacred tree. The Oak even has its own proverb: "Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow." |
