Because they don't sprout till the following spring, red oak acorns are an important fall and winter food source that will carry deer, turkey, ducks, squirrels, and songbirds through the entire season on years with a good mast crop. Red oaks may start dropping acorns before white oaks, and may continue to drop after white oaks are gone (this depends on species and individual trees). White oaks either sprout or are eaten quickly by wildlife, so they are often a short-lived food source that should be capitalized on quickly during deer season. Some species of white oak produce acorns that are mild enough for humans to eat raw. Large acorns appear in late summer, providing food to squirrels and. Because of this, white oak acorns are less bitter, sometimes even sweet, and are usually the preferred acorn for deer and other wild game. The trees have glossy green leaves in the summer, followed by brilliant red fall foliage. White oak acorns sprout shortly after they fall, so they do not require the high tannin levels to resist rotting. The tannin preserves the acorn over the winter so it can germinate and sprout in the spring. Leaf shape is highly variable on oaks, even on the same specimen. The entire margins are rolled under and have a bristled tip. Leaves: Two inches long by one inch wide, dark green, leathery, evergreen, and shiny leaves, they are a lighter green-yellowish bloom underneath. Red oaks produce acorns with higher tannin levels. Say you have an oak tree but you’re not sure what kind. Acorns: Up to 5/8 inch, biennial oval round dark brown acorns, the cap covers ¼ to 1/3 of the nut. However, preference may vary from one tree to the next, and often depends on what kind of acorns are available in your area. Red oak and black oak acorns are both around ¾ in length. Deer generally prefer acorns with less tannin. The bark and acorns may be a bit more helpful when trying to distinguish black oak from red oak. Most acorns contain tannic acid (tannin), a very bitter substance used in tanning leather. You may find both mature and immature acorns on the same tree. 5-7 bristle-tipped lobes, either deep or shallow. Red oak acorns take two, occasionally three years to reach maturity. White oaks produce acorns within one growing season - acorns ripen the same year they were pollinated. Oak trees bloom in the spring, pollinating by wind through male and female flowers (catkins).
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