Acorn and Seed Descriptions
| Tree Name | Species Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Alleghany Chinkapin | Castanea pumila | Seed matures and is dispersed from September through November. Nuts are shiny brown, ovoid, contained individually in a spiny bur, 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter; matures first year. Take a look at the Alleghany Chinkapin. |
| Black Walnut | Juglans nigra | Seed matures in September or October and drops shortly after leaf fall; nut is round, furrowed, enclosed in a 2- to 2 1/2-inch round, thick green husk that does not split; matures first year. Take a look at the Black Walnut. |
| Chestnut Oak | Quercus prinus | Seed matures and is dispersed from early September to early October. Acorns are ovoid, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, separating from the cap when mature; cap is thin, warty and shaped like a teacup, covering 1/3 to 1/2 of nut; matures first year. Take a look at the Chestnut Oak. |
| Chinese Chestnut | Castanea mollissima | Seed matures and is dispersed in September. Nuts are 1 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter, shiny brown, somewhat flattened on 1 or 2 sides; nut enclosed in a sharply spiny bur 2 to 3 inches in diameter, each containing 2 to 3 nuts; matures first year. Take a look at the Chinese Chestnut. |
| Hazelnut | Corylus americana | Seed matures in September and early October; nuts are 1/2 inch across, enclosed in a hairy, leaf-like husk with ragged edges; matures first year. Take a look at the Hazelnut. |
| Northern Red Oak | Quercus rubra | Seed matures and is dispersed in September and October. Acorns are 5/8 to 1 1/8 inches long; egg-shaped, less than 1/3 enclosed by broad cup of reddish-brown, blunt, tightly overlapping scales; matures second year. Take a look at the Northern Red Oak. |
| Overcup Oak | Quercus lyrata | Seed matures and is dispersed in September and October. Acorns are 1/2 to 1 inch long; nearly round, almost enclosed by large rounded cup of warty gray scales, the upper scales long-pointed; usually stalkless; matures first year. Take a look at the Overcup Oak. |
| Pin Oak | Quercus palustris | Seed matures in September and October, and disperses in September to November. Acorns are 1/2 inch long and broad; nearly round; becoming brown when mature; 1/4 to 1/3 enclosed by thin saucer-shaped cup tapering to base; matures second year. Take a look at the Pin Oak. |
| Sawtooth Oak | Quercus acutissima | Seed matures and is dispersed in September. Acorns are oval and 5/8 to 1 inch long. The cap has long, recurving scales, resembling hair, and it covers almost 2/3 of the nut; matures second year. Take a look at the Sawtooth Oak. |
| Southern Red Oak | Quercus falcata | Matures in September to October. Acorns are 1/2 to 5/8 inch long; elliptical or rounded; becoming brown when mature; 1/3 or more enclosed by cup tapering to broad stalklike base; matures second year. Often with striations. Take a look at the Southern Red Oak. |
| Swamp Chestnut Oak | Quercus michauxii | Seed matures and is dispersed in September and October. Acorns are 1 to 1 1/4 inch long; egg-shaped, 1/3 or more enclosed by deep thick cup with broad base, composed of many overlapping hairy brown scales; stalkless or short-stalked; matures first year. Take a look at the Swamp Chestnut Oak. |
| Water Oak | Quercus nigra | Seed matures and is dispersed from August to October. Acorns are 3/8 to 5/8 inch long and broad; nearly round, with shallow, saucer shaped cup; becoming brown when mature; matures second year. Take a look at the Water Oak. |
| White Oak | Quercus alba | Seed matures and is dispersed in September and October. Acorns are 1/2 to 1 1/4 inches long; egg-shaped; about 1/4 enclosed by shallow cup; becoming light gray to brown; with warty, finely hairy scales; matures first year. Take a look at the White Oak. |
| Willow Oak | Quercus phellos | Seed matures and is dispersed from August to October. Acorns are 3/8 to 1/2 inch long and broad; nearly round, with shallow saucer shaped cup; becoming brown when mature; matures second year. Take a look at the Willow Oak. |
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