Black oak acorn8/17/2023 ![]() ![]() Even rabbits will eat the bark of saplings and the leaves of the seedlings². Many mammals and birds eat the acorns of black oaks, some are wild turkeys, songbirds, chipmunks, squirrels, mice, black bears, opossums, and white-tailed deer 2,6. Black oaks are found throughout Maryland 13, except in regions with serpentine soil 6 such as found at Lake Roland Park and Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area 7. They range as far n orth as s outhern Maine, as far s outh as Northern Florida, and as far west as s outhwestern Minnesota 6. They are common in eastern deciduous forests 5. They prefer well-drained, moist, acidic soils, but instead are commonly found in dry, poor soils due to their intolerance to shade¹. Maryland Plant Atlas 12īlack oaks are typically found in sunny locations³. Wray, Iowa State University 10īark of black oak. The acorns are ½ to ¾ of an inch big with a rust colored bottom and a cap covering the top half³. These acorns take 2 years to develop, with many maturing in late summer to early fall¹. Black oaks are wind pollinated, producing acorns that contain one seed in each². Black oaks are monoecious, they bloom miniature female flowers during mid-spring and contain golden male catkins¹. ![]() A mature black oak has a relatively thick basal bark that gives them moderate fire resistance 4. The inner bark of a black oak is a yellow to deep orange color³. The bark is deeply ridged and furrowed with a dark gray to black color on the exterior¹. The petioles typically turn from green to yellow during late summer¹. By summer the leaves are a glossy green color on the upper surface and yellow-green and slightly hairy on the lower surface. The leaves emerge in early spring with a reddish color from the velvety, 4 or 5 angled bud s cluster ed at the ends of branches³. The depth of the sinuses between lobes varies and can be shallow or two-thirds away from the midrib¹. Leaves of black oaks contain 5-9 lobes with bristles on the ends¹. Black oaks reach maturity at about 60 feet tall with a 60-foot crown spread¹.
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