Oak
Featured in: Year 1: Plants
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Oak
Tree
A long-lived British tree that bears no acorns until around 40 years old, can host hundreds of species and turns golden-brown in autumn.
A large, strong tree known for its distinctive leaves and acorns.
How to identify:
Look for its wavy-edged (lobed) leaves, its rough, cracked bark, and its small, hard fruit called acorns.
💡 Fun Facts
- An oak tree doesn't start producing its first acorns until it is about 40 years old.
- A single oak tree can be a habitat for over 500 different species of insect, bird, and mammal.
- In autumn, its leaves turn a golden-brown before falling to the ground.
📅 Through the Year
- Leaf-out:April
- Flowering:April to May
- Fruiting:September to October
- Leaf fall:October to November
Name Story
Quercus robur
means “the strong oak”
What does its name mean?
- Quercus — oakLatin quercus ‘oak’
- robur — strength — and hard oak-woodLatin robur, meaning both ‘strength’ and ‘oak timber’
The word robur means ‘strength’ and ‘oak-wood’ at the very same time — as if the Romans couldn’t picture strength without picturing an oak. Its timber is famously tough and long-lasting.