The oak tree is amongst the most commonly seen trees and can be found in North America, Europe and in tropical regions of Asia. Majestic and towering, oak trees (Quercus species) are valued for their wood, appearance, fruit and importance to wildlife.    

  The oak tree’s main trunk grows upward and branches out toward the top. Under optimal climate and with enough water they can grow up to more than 130 feet and live an average of 600 years. An oak tree’s roots can grow nearly 5 feet In the first year of life and grow sideways to form a deep, broad system to absorb water and minerals the photosynthesis needs.

  It’s leaf is broad, thin and flat and is called a broadleaf. The shape of the leaf may be ovate, obovate and sometimes, elliptic. The characteristic features in an oak leaf are its lobes and sinuses (space between the lobes). The leaves undertake photosynthesis to produce sugar for the rest of the tree and mark the altering of seasons with their fading colors.

  Like all fruit-producing trees, oak tress all bloom in the spring and are usually in full bloom by the time April arrives, because warmer temperatures trigger increased sap production, which leads to the formation of blooms. Oak trees produce both male and female flowers, which means they self-pollinate. The male flowers hang in showy, long, yellowish-green clusters called catkins. They produce a lot of pollen, which clouds the air in mid-April and makes those who have tree allergies rather miserable. The female flowers are much more inconspicuous. They appear about a week after the male flowers. Nestled against the base of twigs, they look much like tiny leaf buds and are hard to see.

   Unique the acorns are, they have dark stripes along their length, their caps have flat scale.