The Anatomy of a Tree

Majestic and towering, oak trees (Quercus species) are valued for their wood, appearance, fruit and importance to wildlife. Thus, it is the undisputed king of the western world. It is known for its lobed leaves and the large cap of its acorn, a nut found on all trees of the genus Quercus with dark stripes along their length. The trunk is strong and grows straight upward.

Like most plants, their lives relied on photosynthesis process, in which leaves absorb CO2 and produce sugar with the help of xylem transporting water and minerals and transpiration pulling the xylem sap upward. They can grow in any place where there is sufficient water in the soil.

The average life span of an oak is 600 years. In its first year, an oak tree can grow nearly 5 feet. But oak trees don't start blooming and producing acorns until they are around 20 years of age. As the tree continues to grow, they start producing even more flowers and acorns until they are about 80 years old. At that time, acorn production begins to diminish. Oak trees produce the most flowers and acorns between the ages of 50 and 80. Leaves function differently in four seasons. The leaves undertake photosynthesis while the rest of the tree uses the sugers it produces in summer. When fall comes, the leaves stop making cholorophyll, and carotenoids and anthoyanins produce fall colors of red, orange and bronze. The leaves fall away and the tree remains dormant until the spring brings life back to the oak tree.

Oak trees are loosely divided into groups: red and white oaks. All of them bloom in the spring, but at slightly different times. 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 while the female flowers are much more inconspicuous.