What kind of wood comes from an acorn tree?
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Acorns are produce by oaks. Just come on into my yard and I will be happy to show you.
Oaks produce acorns. Also trees in the genus Lithocarpus produce acorns. Those trees are a type of beech that are all native to Asia except for one species that we call Tanoak (or tanbark oak) here in the very western US. Tanoaks look a lot like oaks, produce acorns like oaks, but they are not really oaks.
So the answer could be oaks, or tanoaks here. In NJ though, it is likely only to be oaks.
So the answer could be oaks, or tanoaks here. In NJ though, it is likely only to be oaks.
There doesn't seem to be one simple answer. I catch Ron Wilson on the radio on the weekends. Here's his article on the issue:
(broken link removed to http://www.ronwilsononline.com/pages/ronW_treesShrubs.html?feed=301035&article=4616115)
(broken link removed to http://www.ronwilsononline.com/pages/ronW_treesShrubs.html?feed=301035&article=4616115)
For the few decades I've been stepping on them and listening to them bang around inside the lawn mower from the white and red oaks here it seems to be favorable/unfavorable Spring weather conditions. However the last two years we've had no acorns but we've also had severe winter moth defoliations. I'm hoping for a decline in the winter moth this year as they get my fruit trees too unless I get a good target spray on the little munchers.
Old timers around here say the more acorns around the harsher the winter and vice versa. Two years ago we had the most acorns I have ever seen in my life also the snowiest winter in a long time. Last year no acorns and only one snow storm. This year average acorns average winter. Pretty neat.
Beer Belly
Minister of Fire
A lot of times you can ID what Oak species you are looking at by the acorns. Size, what the cap looks like, how far it comes down over the shell, etc.
Acorns = oak . . . at least in my little piece of the world.
As a side note . . . I love oaks . . . probably because growing up the family land had few, if any oaks. My home property has several though and I love the shape and even the acorns in the Fall with the chipmunks and squirrels gathering them up. Heck, I even gather some up and plant them around the property . . . and on the family land.
As a side note . . . I love oaks . . . probably because growing up the family land had few, if any oaks. My home property has several though and I love the shape and even the acorns in the Fall with the chipmunks and squirrels gathering them up. Heck, I even gather some up and plant them around the property . . . and on the family land.
Just think, the mighty Oak was once a little nut like you.
hahaha...okay...oak trivia...the white oak class has an acorn gestation period of 1 year. Red oaks have a gestation period of 2 years. White tailed deer and most wild turkeys prefer the flavor of White oak acorns over Red oak.
During the coffee embargo Americans made acorn coffee as well as chicory root coffee.
In ancient symbolism acorns represent fertility and prosperity.
hahaha...okay...oak trivia...the white oak class has an acorn gestation period of 1 year. Red oaks have a gestation period of 2 years. White tailed deer and most wild turkeys prefer the flavor of White oak acorns over Red oak.
During the coffee embargo Americans made acorn coffee as well as chicory root coffee.
In ancient symbolism acorns represent fertility and prosperity.
Deer will dig through a pile of corn and red oak acorns to find one white - less tannin = less bitter. Bite one, reds will twist your mouth up. If you crush reds and soak them in moving water it will take a lot of the tannins out and make them palitable but white are still better and after soaking whites will have a nutty flavor.
Ok, enough silly trivia - Oaks do not produce fruit every year. sometimes none, sometimes a little and sometimes it rains the nuts. But to answer the original question again: acorns = oak. Many varieties of red and white oak trees but the easiest way to tell(or how I learned it) is whites have rounded lobe leaves(bullets) reds have pointed lobes on the leaves(arrows) This may not be PC any longer but that is how I was taught many years ago as a child. Some reds will have rounded lobes with just a tiny point in the end like a barb or needle point so look close. White is the best in regards to firewood but both are at the very top so take it all. Once you have been identifying trees a while you will note differences in bark and wood so identity will be obvious without the leaves.
Also, as the saying goes, " the only dumb question is the one not asked" We all learn something new pretty much daily here and I am just one of those weirdos that has been facinated by this stuff from a very young age - long before I was burning wood to heat my home.
Ok, enough silly trivia - Oaks do not produce fruit every year. sometimes none, sometimes a little and sometimes it rains the nuts. But to answer the original question again: acorns = oak. Many varieties of red and white oak trees but the easiest way to tell(or how I learned it) is whites have rounded lobe leaves(bullets) reds have pointed lobes on the leaves(arrows) This may not be PC any longer but that is how I was taught many years ago as a child. Some reds will have rounded lobes with just a tiny point in the end like a barb or needle point so look close. White is the best in regards to firewood but both are at the very top so take it all. Once you have been identifying trees a while you will note differences in bark and wood so identity will be obvious without the leaves.
Also, as the saying goes, " the only dumb question is the one not asked" We all learn something new pretty much daily here and I am just one of those weirdos that has been facinated by this stuff from a very young age - long before I was burning wood to heat my home.
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
Two oaks at my sons house have not had acorns for two years. Very healthy otherwise.
NO. It depends upon the weather. In summers like we just had (very hot and dry) most of the oaks will drop their acorns as early as July. Of course there is no meat in them yet so they are worthless. And yes, you can tell a white oak and red oak by looking at the acorns.
To add to what Bob stated about the deer going for the white oaks, he is correct. However, this will no doubt seem strange and odd to many but deer will go for the pin oak acorns just about as much as the white oaks. No, it does not make sense because pin oaks are in the red oak family. However, I've shot more than one buck while he was chomping on the acorns from pin oaks.
My oaks produce bcorns.. I am more advanced than you people 
Ray
Ray
My oaks produce bcorns.. I am more advanced than you people
Ray
My oaks are imaginary so they can produce whatever I tell them !
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Pete
Great thread, thank you all for for all the great information that you are giving, I thought I was screwy when I think back and there weren't acorns I years past, and yes, I can finally teach him something....
bluedogz
Minister of Fire
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