large Acorns..........

[Kelley (Texas)]

Returning from the doctor's appointment the other day, I spotted this Bur Oak Tree as we entered our neighborhood from the East entrance. Instantly, I thought about the large acorns produced by these beautiful trees.

We kept our grandson this weekend and I asked him and Debbie if they would do me the favor of retrieving a small basket full of the large acorns. Sure enough, after a few minutes, they returned with a basket full of beautiful large acorns. Folks, these acorns are approximately two inches long, typical for the Bur Oak Tree. I say typical because when I was a young boy, I remember a large Bur Oak Tree growing along a creek near our swimming hole that produced acorns the size of small apples.

I placed a quarter beside the small pile of acorns to give you an indication of their size. Kelley (Texas)

 

[Ron J]

n/t

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

n/t

 

[Roscue2]

Seeing the acorns has brought to my mind a fact you may find interesting about a tree famous on the west coast.

The Redwood/ sequoia trees are the largest trees on earth, yet they have very tiny acorn's to carry their seeds. So small in fact, that squirrels generally leave them alone because they see it as too much work for a small reward. Even so, Redwoods do not use animals to help the seeds sprout, but instead use fire. The acorns are designed to open when heated by fire, and then the seeds can be planted. I encourage you to look into this subject more if it interests you because I only know the basic information I stated here about how it works.

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

Do you know how long the tiny acorn will live until a fire or heat will open it? Also, will these giant trees live anywhere else? Kelley (Texas)

 

[Roscue2]

I am not sure how long they will live, but I imagine they only live one season and if there is no fire the tree produces more the next year.

Many tourist shops up in the mountains and by the coast sell tiny redwoods and sequoias for people to plant when they get home. I imagine they can live in other places if the climate is right.

 

[Kelley (Texas)]

the small trees bought by the tourist live long term? Again, thanks. Kelley (Texas)

 

[NM5K]

Those are some Texas sized acorns there.. The tree in the front yard here is dropping loads of them,
but they are the smaller to normal sized version. There are so many on the driveway right now that you
crunch if you walk or drive across it.. I have to clean them up like leaves as they get to be a mess..