![]() ![]() A Pin Oak ( Quercus palustris) and a White Oak ( Quercus alba).Ī Pin Oak leaf has deep nodes and comes to bristled points at the end of each lobe, as pictured below.īelow is the other type of oak, a White Oak. Below are two pictures of the most widely-recognizable oaks from each family. This step is generally the easiest, as a quick glance at the leaves can deter mine the family. When identifying oaks, it is important to determine which family the oak belongs in first. The Red Oak wood is quite porous and has a reddish tinge while White Oak is leakproof and has a lighter look to it. Lastly, the timber of the Oak varies greatly between Red and White Oaks.Additionally, the acorns of Red Oaks have hairs on the insides of their cups, while White Oak acorns do not. For a significantly harder to see distinction: the acorns of White Oaks reach maturity after one year, while those of Red Oaks reach maturity after two years.The bark of White Oaks tends to be lighter in color while the bark of Red Oaks varies from a dark grey to brown.This is the most distinct feature between the two families of trees. White Oaks have lobed leaves that are not serrated, while Red (or black) Oaks have bristle-tipped leaves.These differences are apparent in the leaves, acorns, bark, and even the wood of the tree. Similarities aside, there are a couple of distinguishing features between these two types of oaks. Because of this, identification of oak trees is much less straightforward than for other genuses as extensive variation can happen from tree to tree of the same species. Unlike most hybrids, oak hybrids are “viable,” and can reproduce on their own. Additionally, oaks hybridize with ease, meaning that one species of oak can cross pollinate with another, and grow a hybrid mix of the two trees. Acorns are a staple in the diet of many wild animals, and therefore will only occasionally have the opportunity to grow into a new tree. The fruit of the tree, acorns, can take one to two years to reach maturity depending on the type of tree. ![]() This action is to promote cross breeding (and prevent self pollination), and is partially why oaks hybridize so easily. Pollination of these flowers occurs by wind female flowers will only open once the male flowers on the same tree have dispersed all their pollen. Oaks are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female flowers on the same tree. Both types of trees reproduce the same way. While obviously different, both groups have some key similarities. Oaks belong to the genus Quercus and there are two distinct groups within the genus: White Oaks and Red (or black) Oaks. In fact, a common saying is: whiskey without an oak barrel is just moonshine! Taxonomy White Oaks are used extensively in the whiskey making process, and the interaction between the wood and the alcohol is part of what gives each type of whiskey its unique flavor. Nowadays, the oak wood is still widely used, particularly in hardwood floors, but more interestingly: in bourbon/whiskey barrels. In fact, some oak species were so popular, that this demand decimated their populations globally. Demand for oaks reached an all time high during the shipbuilding golden ages of the late 1700s to mid 1800s in both the US and Europe. Many of the species used to cross the Atlantic Ocean to the new world were made out of oak. However, extensive use of oaks did not start until the 1500s, when the Spanish discovered oak’s superiority in ship building. Additionally, early Europeans and Americans would make flour for baking by grinding down acorns. ![]() Oaks have been supplying us with hearty wood for centuries however, lesser known is that acorns and the bark of oaks have been used to treat inflammation and diarrhea. Oaks, classified in the genus Quercus, have an approximated 600 species across the world, 56 of which are native to North America, and 21 of which are native in Missouri. Oak Tree And Sun History of Human Use of Oaks ![]()
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