Oak deciduous tree. About oak trees? Carefully! Side effects

Oak is a genus of plants that belongs to the beech family. There are two varieties: tree and shrub. Oak combines over 500 species. The habitat of the tree is represented by the Northern Hemisphere. Plant loves temperate climate, therefore, in the southern part of the planet, it lives only in the tropical highlands. The leaves and fruits are well recognizable, partially edible and beneficial to health.

maturation cycle

Oak is a tree that belongs to an evergreen plant species. Its crown may not change for several years. Nevertheless, there are species in which the leaves fall off with the onset of the first frost. The inflorescences of the tree are unisexual, small. It should be noted that the crown cover during pollination is poorly developed. Strong flowers are only female, male earrings can fall off at the slightest breath of wind. It is noteworthy that oak is a tree, for pollination of which scales of two sexes are needed at once. The ripening of the fruit occurs in the roller, which is a small saucer. Subsequently, an acorn grows in it. Each breed and the shape of the roller is different. In some species, the acorns are elongated, in the second - round and small, in the third - nut-shaped. It is allowed to cross breeds, but this is likely to lead to a noticeable decrease in yield.

Extremely slow, but can live for hundreds of years. The root system is formed during the first year, then it constantly develops. It is interesting that after sawing down the oak, after some time, powerful shoots sprout abundantly from the stump. Oak is a tree that is not too demanding on the soil, so the soil can be anything. Natural reproduction occurs by acorns. The height of the oak varies up to 40-45 meters. The volume of the crown depends on the breed and climate.

Description of pedunculate oak

This type of plant is considered to be ordinary, since it is the most common in the European part of the planet. An oak sprouts from an acorn in just six months. Further, over the course of 20 years, its trunk, crown and roots are formed. reach a height of 50 meters. The trunk and branches are thick, powerful, able to withstand even heavy wind. At moderate conditions and a developed root system, pedunculate oaks can live up to 1000 years. The bark is dark brown, thick. The leaves are oblong, grow in bunches, have from 3 to 7 blunt lobes with slight teeth. These trees bloom in late spring. Common oaks are very fond of the sun, as it is a heat-resistant plant. Acorns up to 3.5 cm long.

Features of downy oak

Most often, representatives of this breed are found in Transcaucasia, in the Crimea, as well as in Asia Minor and in southern Europe. The trees reach a height of only 8-10 meters. Differ in durability and heat resistance. It must be said that such oak species are significantly inferior to many other varieties in height. But they have a very sinuous thick trunk with spreading branches. Due to its small size and wide crown, the plant often resembles a large shrub from afar.

The length of the leaves sometimes reaches 10 cm. They are variable in shape, grow in pairs, the lobes are slightly pointed, dark green. Interestingly, the scales surrounding the acorn are very fluffy and soft.

Holm oak texture

The homeland of the tree is the Mediterranean and Na this moment they are actively cultivated in North Africa and Europe. This is an evergreen plant whose height is 22-25 meters. Trunk gray color, smooth. The crown is spreading, dense. The leaves themselves are small, variable in shape, shiny, bright green in color, leathery. The fruits ripen only in the second year. Oak grows rapidly, regardless of the climate. It is suitable for frosts down to -20 degrees and heat up to +40. Shade tolerant, drought tolerant. The breed is called stone due to the fact that trees mainly grow on rocks, in mountainous areas.

Distinctive features of red oak

Most often found on the banks of rivers. Does not like stagnant water in the soil. Homeland is considered North America in particular Canada. In height, such trees reach 25 meters. Outwardly, the trunk is slender, smooth. The gray bark darkens and cracks over time. The oak crown is tent-shaped, green with yellowish tints closer to the ground. The leaves are large, sometimes their diameter reaches 25 cm. They have pointed lobes. In autumn they turn red and fall off.

The fruits are small, spherical, sizes - no more than 2 cm. Ripe acorns are red, slightly brown. Ripens by the end of autumn, the first year is lean. Steady fruitfulness - up to 20 years. The tree is frost-resistant, calmly resists strong wind and bright sun.

The plant is native to East Coast North America. Large plantings are noted in forests with limestone-rich soil. Easily gets along with other breeds of oaks. It is important that the area was no higher than a kilometer above sea level. White oak trees can't stand severe frosts. The height of an adult tree is about 30 meters. The crown is powerful, tent-shaped, formed by sprawling branches. The color of the bark is grey. Old trees almost do not crack, unlike petiolate. The leaves are oval, large (up to 22 cm), have up to 9 lobes. Turn red during blooming summer time- turn green, closer to winter they become purple and fall off. The length of the acorn is up to 2.5 cm. The fruits are almost not covered with scales, therefore they often fall from the tree from strong gusts of wind.

Description of large-fruited oak

These trees are a North American species. Grows up to 30 meters high. The trunk is thick, brown in color, cracking heavily after several years from the moment of emergence. The tent-like shape of the crown is achieved by powerful spreading branches.

The foliage is oblong, lobed, has a dark green color, shines in the sun and after rain. In autumn, the entire crown falls, sometimes along with thin branches. It is worth noting the diameter of the leaves - 25 cm. The acorns are large, often reaching a length of 5 cm. Oval in shape, covered by scales by a third. A large-fruited oak sprouts with average speed. Seeds are very moisture-loving and frost-resistant. Because of this, the breed is considered decorative.

Reserve chestnut leaf oak

Widely distributed in Armenia, Iran and the north of the Caucasus. Cultivation is not amenable. Most of the plantings are wild. In the middle of the 20th century, these trees were listed in the Red Book, so their felling is strictly prohibited. In the Hyrkansky Reserve, they are watched over by specially trained people. Interestingly, chestnut oak is a mixture of several wild breeds growing mainly on the crests of the ridges. Very photophilous, moderately resistant to frost, but does not tolerate drought.

When the tree blossoms, it looks like a huge chestnut, 30 meters high. The trunk is rather slender and thin, the branches are sprawling. Large chestnut-shaped leaves additionally emphasize the grandeur of the tent-shaped crown. Acorns swell up to 3 cm in length.

Swamp oak (pyramidal)

The birthplace of the breed is considered southern regions Canada. The tree reaches a height of about 25 meters. The crown resembles a pyramid from a distance. It is worth noting that the trunk practically merges with the leaves. The fact is that the bark of the swamp oak is completely green with an admixture of brown. The leaves are medium, have deep cuts and teeth. The color of the crown is green, but by autumn it becomes purple. The fruits are spherical, sessile, about 1.5 cm in diameter. Oak seeds love water, just like mature trees. For extra moisture root system goes deep into the ground. The habitat of the breed is a swampy area. Pyramidal oak grows quickly, with prolonged frosts it dies. Often large wild stands can be found on the shores of lakes and reservoirs.

Cultivation and reproduction

Pedunculate and large-fruited oak seedlings are very demanding on moisture and mineral richness of the soil. That is why they quickly emerge in floodplains and deep forest loams. It is not recommended to sow oak seedlings in podzol soil. In such soil, the sprouts will quickly die, as the roots will not be able to gain a foothold due to the high acidity of the humus. It is desirable to sow acorns in late autumn. The fruits must be fresh. If you allow the slightest drying of acorns, then germination will decrease significantly. Planting depth - from 5 to 8 cm. Before growing oak, it is important to know that the soil must be fertilized when sowing. To protect the sprouts from pests, it is necessary to cover them with spruce branches. It is also important to maintain a stable soil temperature (at least +2 degrees).

Many gardeners are wondering how to grow oak if other trees, due to circumstances, do not produce acorns. For it, you can use the breeding procedure. Green cuttings should be rooted in the first half of summer. It will not be superfluous to use special heteroauxins as a fertilizer. In addition, you need to know that cuttings of young trees germinate much faster and easier than old ones (more than 20 years old).

Features of pruning oaks

Representatives of this family of trees love careful care, despite the fact that they are considered wild. The pruning procedure especially affects the yield. Oak is a tree with monopodial branching. Therefore, the main stem must continue to grow until the end of the plant's life. In this case, the top cannot be limited in height. She always dominates the rest of the shoots. Pruning of branches should be done every few years. The optimal period for removing branches is early spring or the end of winter. It is important that the air temperature is not lower than -5 degrees. Otherwise, frostbite will appear at the cut points. By summer, these branches will dry to the ground. If there will be a large number of then the whole tree will die. Only new shoots, growths and diseased branches should be removed.

Useful and harmful properties of oak

For medical purposes, the bark and young branches of the tree are often used, as well as acorns, less often leaves. IN upper layers oak trunk contains a lot of resin, acids, sugar and pectin. The composition of the fruit includes such useful substances as organic oil, proteins, starch. Young leaves contain tannins, dyes and pentosans. Thanks to this, effective anti-inflammatory drugs are produced from the tree and fruits.

The antispasmodic properties of oak are also well known. For example, it effectively helps with colitis, intestinal bleeding, gastritis, diseases of the spleen and liver. Oak tinctures increase mental and physical activity, calm the central nervous system, improve patency vascular system. On the other hand, preparations based on this plant are contraindicated in children and patients suffering from constipation, hemorrhoids, nausea, and stomach ulcers.

Resource usage

Oaks are in most cases used in construction and cooking, as well as in light industry. Sawdust is used to make corks and furniture. Wood is optimally suited for surface ships, fortifications, machine building, barrel making. The boards do not swell, burn poorly, are durable, hard and dense. When oak leaves blossom and acorns ripen, it's time for cooks. In North America, the fruits of the tree are often added to coffee, candy, and the most sophisticated dishes. In Asia, acorns are eaten fried with spices.

You can write a description of an oak in an artistic or scientific style using the options presented.

Essay description of oak

Even our ancestors considered the oak a symbol of power and strength. And its strong trunks served as a reliable material in construction. Today, you can often hear how men are compared with this strong tree.

Passing by, look at the edge, where a majestic oak spread its broad shoulders. It is the largest in the entire oak forest. It is this image that is sung in folk songs, described in legends.

Oak is a majestic tree. Probably, some squirrel lost an acorn in this place many years ago. And now his powerful hands reaching for the sun. Green leaves shimmer in the rays warm light. And the thick trunk firmly holds the twigs and no wind is afraid of them anymore. Oak is loved by forest dwellers, because it protects, gives housing and delicious treats in the form of acorns. The oak fruit has quite interesting shape in the form of a droplet with a brown hat.

The mighty giant is not afraid of anything: neither pests nor lumberjacks. He will always find the strength to be reborn even from a stump.
But it is worth remembering that trees are our oxygen. Therefore, neglecting our mother nature is extremely stupid.

Scientific description of oak

Oak is a deciduous tree. The dimensions of the oak are impressive. Average Height its about 35 meters, although sometimes there are 60 meter giants. The thickness of the oak can also be quite impressive. The trunk of an oak, on average, is about 1.5 m in diameter, covered with dark bark, dotted with cracks, sinuous and wrinkled.

The shape of the tree leaf depends on the type of oak. Oak leaves can be lobed, serrated, pinnatipartite and others. Oak branches are indirect, curved. This tortuosity is explained by the fact that the oak tree is very responsive to the sun's rays. Shoots grow towards the light and therefore change direction depending on the season, weather and time of day.

The crown of an oak and its shape largely depends on the conditions in which the trees grow. In the forests, oak trunks are mostly straight and even, while separately growing plants on the plains are very widely distributed in breadth. The crowns of such oaks in girth are measured in meters. If a tree has grown in extreme conditions, for example, with a lack of moisture or under frequent wind exposure, then the crowns of such oaks are deformed and not quite clear and regular in shape.

The mighty oak has been revered by people since ancient times. Among the ancient Greeks, it was a symbol of longevity, mental and physical strength, so wreaths made from oak leaves were considered the best reward for brave warriors. The largest and largest trees symbolized Zeus and were his natural monuments.

Oaks are deciduous trees from the beech family. The oak genus includes about six hundred species of plants, which can be seen in all regions of the Northern Hemisphere, where a temperate climate prevails. The southernmost point of distribution of this plant is the tropical highlands, although some species grow near the equator, in Bolivia and the Greater Sunda Islands.

Most representatives of the genus are photophilous (although there are species that prefer to grow in partial or complete shade), resistant to frost and drought, undemanding to the composition of the soil and can grow on dry, acidic and even saline lands.

The oldest member of the genus

The mighty oak is a long-lived plant: the age of the oldest oak in Europe is from 1.5 to 2 thousand years. At the same time, it is not high: the height of the tree does not exceed 25 meters, but the diameter at the level of one and a half meters from the surface of the earth reaches four.

growing an old oak in Latvia, not far from the village of Stelmuzh, from where its name came from - “Stelmuzhsky old man”. It is interesting that earlier there was a huge hollow inside the tree, because of which the old oak could die. To prevent this, the hollow was cleared of dust, which took several dump trucks to remove, disinfected and sealed the holes with copper sheets. True, such methods only briefly extended the life of the mighty oak. Its condition is currently close to critical: the bark of the oak is overgrown with mosses, lichens, fungi, and the likelihood that the old oak will die soon is high.

Description

Not every plant manages to live up to such old age: Usually these trees live from three hundred to four hundred years. For the first hundred years, they grow in length, depending on the species, they grow up to 20-50 meters, after which growth stops in height. But in diameter, a large oak tree grows throughout its life.

According to the description, trees from this genus are very similar to each other. Oak roots are thick, long, rod-type, but if a large oak grows on highly waterlogged or podzolic soil, where limestone or other dense rocks are close to the surface of the earth that do not allow to break deeper, then oak roots can be located superficially.

Oak wood is very dense, strong, hard and heavy, and its properties largely depend on where it grows:

• If the soil is dry and sandy, the oak bark is thick and black. The wood is straw-yellow, fine-layered, hard, but slightly elastic;
• Oak wood, which grows on the coast of rivers or in lowland forest swamps, is large-layered, has a pale pink tint, is heavy, elastic, but cracks when it dries. Oak bark is light gray with a bluish tint.
• If a large oak tree is not growing on dry and moist soil (transitional), its wood will be yellowish in color and have better elasticity than a dry soil plant, and less than that which has grown in swamps. At the same time, this type will also be inferior in hardness to the two previous types. The gray-brown oak bark, which has taken root in the transitional soil, is soft, thick, and a hollow often appears in the trunk of the plant.

The oak bark is dark gray in color, completely covered with sinuous and deep longitudinal and transverse cracks. At the same time, in trees growing in colder latitudes, the oak bark consists of individual plates.

A large oak has a beautiful, extensive crown. This is due to a rather interesting arrangement of branches: the mighty oak is a light-loving plant, so the shoots produced by the tree very often change the direction of their growth, since they tend to grow only from the side lit by the sun.

The leaves of the tree are short-petioled, leathery, have five to seven lobes. Plants from the genus of oaks are interesting in that for some trees the foliage falls off annually, for others, drying out, it remains on the tree until the buds begin to bloom. But in the third (most of them) the leaves remain on the tree for several years, which gives reason to call representatives of the genus evergreen.

Bloom

Since a large oak is a long-lived plant, a young oak begins to bear fruit only for 20-30 years of life. Although the tree bears fruit every year, a bountiful harvest is obtained every four to five years.

A large oak tree blooms in the spring immediately after the leaves appear on it. Has a plant both male and female flowers. Male can be identified by the pale pink color of the flowers, which are collected in two or three pieces in long earrings. After the earring blooms, the pollen released by it is viable for four to five days.

The female flowers are small, located above the male ones, they are characterized by a greenish tint with a crimson color along the edges, and, like the male ones, are collected in small catkins.

The fruit of the plant, the acorn, which botanists believe is a nut, consists of one large seed. Since it is very sensitive to external influences, it is protected by a rigid pericarp and a cup-shaped cupule (a special formation of fused leaves), which at first completely surrounds the seed, and as the fruit grows and strengthens, it ends up at its base. Acorns ripen by autumn and, breaking away from the plush, fall down. Most germinate immediately, without waiting for the arrival of spring, while if the winter is severe, then many die.

Diseases

Despite the fact that the large oak has a very strong wood, it is subject to infectious diseases which are caused by various fungi and bacteria. For example, necrosis (the process of irreversible cessation of cell activity) kills the plant in a very short time, and powdery mildew caused by a fungus is one of the most dangerous diseases, however, seen on early stage, after spraying with special solutions, quickly disappears.

Also, gall midge, a pest insect that pierces the skin of the leaf and lays eggs inside it, causes considerable harm.

The grown larvae form dense spherical growths of yellow color and live in the leaf until they turn into an adult insect, which cannot but affect general condition plants.

Application

Large oak is notable for the fact that its use is possible in many areas. human life– in construction, in furniture production, in folk crafts, in Food Industry, medicine and even music (musical instruments are made from it). In addition, when landscaping streets, squares, parks, plants are also used for decorative purposes.

Plant wood is one of the best building and ornamental materials: it differs not only in density and strength, but also in fire resistance (the calorific value is much higher than that of many tree species growing in middle latitudes).

Bottle caps are also made from this tree: the bark of the cork oak, which grows in the south of France, in Spain, Algeria and the Caucasus, contains a thick layer of cork, which is several centimeters thick.

Acorns of some plant species have found use in the food industry: especially for trees that grow in the south. So, acorns of the Italian holm oak, sweet in taste. There is also evidence that the Indians often ate them. As for acorns growing on the territory of Russia, only a coffee substitute is made from them. one more interesting fact When it comes to the use of these plants is that oak roots are completely related to the most expensive mushrooms in the world - truffles.

Oak bark, acorns, branches, leaves have found their application in medicine. Acorns contain sugar, starch, tannins and proteins, fatty oil. The leaves contain dyes, pentosan, tannins.

The properties of oak bark are such that it has been used as a wound healing and anti-inflammatory agent. Since oak bark contains sugar, pectin, various acids, it is part of drinks that are used for colitis, liver diseases, bleeding of the intestines, spleen or stomach.

Also, the resulting decoction has a beneficial effect on the nervous and cardiovascular system. Oak bark is recommended even by dentists: a decoction of it helps with inflammation of the gums, thanks to it the mucous membrane hardens, as a result of which harmful bacteria are deprived of a nutrient medium. And after a while, the hardened shell is replaced by a new, healthy tissue.

Family: beech (Fagaceae).

motherland

Most often, the oak tree can be found in regions of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. The southern limit of its habitat is the tropical highlands.

Form: tree or shrub.

Description

The oak plant is powerful, tall, deciduous, less often with voluminous lush. Oak leaves are leathery, in evergreen species they remain on the tree for several years, in other species they fall off every year or, gradually drying out and decaying, remain on the branches. The leaves are lobed, some evergreen species are entire. The flowers are small, male and female are formed on the same plant. Male flowers are erect or long dangling catkins, female flowers are small bunches or also catkins. Most of the species of oak wood make up a significant part of the mixed forest areas and are a source of valuable timber. Like a tree, oak lives extremely long - three hundred - four hundred years, individual specimens are known up to two thousand years old. The oak tree grows mainly in height only for the first hundred years, while growth in thickness does not stop throughout its life. Oak fruits - acorns, are characteristic of the entire beech family. The acorn is a dry one-seeded fruit, the rigid pericarp of which is enclosed in a kind of cup - a plush. or beech usually contain two or three acorns in a cup, oak fruits differ in that there is one acorn in a cup. Oak is resistant to adverse conditions, durable, and at the same time - it is a very decorative tree. Oak is widely used in landscaping due to these qualities.

white oak (Q. alba) - a large tree up to 30 meters high with a spreading crown. The bark is gray, covered with shallow cracks. Oak leaves are oblong-oval in shape, quite large in size, up to 25 centimeters. In spring, the leaves have a bright red color, in summer they become bright green, the underside of the leaf becomes matte. White color. In autumn, the shade of the leaves varies from burgundy to rich purple. White oak is native to eastern North America. Drought tolerant, but not hardy enough. It is not picky about the level of soil moisture; white oak also tolerates saline soils well. It grows quite quickly, gaining impressive height in a short time. Due to its rapid growth and spectacular appearance, white oak is often used for decorative cultivation.

Red oak or northern oak (Q. rubra / Q. borealis) - high, up to 25 meters, a tree with a dense crown, covered with smooth thin bark. Oak leaves are large with pointed lobes. Red oak got its name because of the reddish foliage in spring and autumn before falling. Distributed in North America. Frost-resistant. Not picky about soils, tolerates even acidic, but does not tolerate calcareous soils. Resistant to diseases and pests, tolerates air pollution well. Due to these qualities, red oak is actively used in landscaping.

Swamp oak (Q. palustris Muenchh) - a slender tree up to 25 meters high. It differs from most relatives by its pyramidal crown. The bark is smooth, greenish-brown. The leaves are bright green with deeply cut pointed lobes. The plant is native to North America. Oak grows on wet soils along the shores of lakes and swamps, from which it got its name.

Mongolian oak (Q. mongolica Fisch) - high, up to 30 meters, tree. Oak has a spherical densely leafy crown. The leaves are dense, oblong or ovoid in shape with short rounded lobes. Mongolian oak grows in southern regions Eastern Siberia And Far East. Frost-resistant. Grows slower than North American species.

Willow oak (Q. phellos) is a beautiful deciduous plant. Oak has a wide rounded crown and a slender trunk. Differs in long narrow leaves resembling willow. Frost-resistant, undemanding to the soil. Photophilous.

large-fruited oak (Q. macrocarpa) - a tree with a spreading crown and a thick trunk. Reaches 30 meters in height. The trunk is covered with light brown cracking bark. The leaves are dark green, oblong, lobed. Oak is moisture-loving, frost-resistant.

(Q. ilex) - evergreen tall plant. Oak reaches a height of 25 meters. It has a smooth dark gray trunk and a spreading dense crown. Differs in dense leathery leaves of small size (up to 8 cm). Grows in dry rocky soils warm regions- in the south of Europe, the north of Africa, the Mediterranean. However, it tolerates frosts down to -20°C without consequences. Shade-tolerant. Drought tolerant. Handles haircut well.

Oak rock, or sessile color (Q. petraea Liebl) - a tree up to 30 m high with a tent-shaped crown. The leaves are large, lobed. The bark is smooth, in old plants covered with small cracks. Rock oak is widely distributed in the Northern Crimea, in the Northern Caucasus, as well as in the west of Ukraine, where it forms forests together with others. deciduous trees. Photophilous.

Application

Many types of oak are decorative. Oak is used to create alleys, in single plantings, as well as in green massifs, exclusively oak or in combination with other deciduous trees, such as chestnut, sycamore, ginkgo, American ash. Small-leaved forms of holm oak are used to create. Red oak is used for noise protection.

Growing conditions

As a plant, oak is photophilous, frost-resistant, drought-resistant. Most species of oak are not demanding on the composition of the soil - they are able to grow on acidic, dry, saline soils. Waterlogging is not desirable, although the oak is able to endure flooding for quite a long time. For the most part, oaks are photophilous, although some species tolerate lateral and full shading.

reproduction

Oak reproduces by acorns. Sowing with acorns is best done autumn due to the fact that they are poorly stored in artificial conditions. Young trees are best planted in spring period. Coppice shoots also show good results, provided that the tree is at least twenty years old. Ornamental varieties are propagated by grafting; species of oak that are resistant to adverse conditions, for example, fluffy oak, are used as a stock.

Landing and care

Landing is preferable in open, well-lit areas. After subsidence of the soil, the root neck of the tree should not be located below ground level. For planting, sand, peat and sod land are needed, as well as a drainage layer of gravel of at least twenty centimeters. After planting and in the next four days - watering is necessary. Despite the drought resistance of the tree, regular watering is required in late spring and summer, in the absence of rain. Young seedlings are much more sensitive to dry periods than mature plants. Before the onset of winter, it is necessary to mulch the trunk circle. For this purpose, peat compost and wood chips are suitable. The layer can be from ten to fifteen centimeters. After the cold weather subsides, the tree will need top dressing with urea, ammonium nitrate and mullein. As necessary, dead branches are carried out and the trunk is cleaned of top shoots.

Diseases and pests

Oaks are susceptible to various infectious wood diseases caused by fungi and bacteria. Necrosis of trunks and branches is dangerous for oak, due to which the tree can dry out in a short time. Powdery mildew is one of the most dangerous oak diseases. The disease, noticed at an early stage, is easily stopped by spraying with a one percent solution of copper sulphate. Oak leaves are very attractive to gall midges, a small insect that lays its eggs inside the leaf. Grown up larvae form galls, dense spherical growths of yellow color. This can significantly spoil not only the state, but also appearance tree. Also, leaf-eating insects and stem pests, such as large oak barbel, green oak leafworm, fruit moth, are dangerous for oak. Damage caused by such organisms can stop the growth and lead to the death of the plant.

Popular Shapes

Forms of holm oak:

• f. aureo-variegata - yellow-mottled form. Differs in color of foliage;
• f. microphylla - small-leaved form;
• f. longifolia - long-leaved form;
• f. angustifolia - narrow-leaved form;
• f. crispa - form with curly leaves;
• f. rotundifolia - round-leaved form;
• f. integrifolia - whole-leaved form with lanceolate leaves without lobes;
• f. Fordii is a form of Ford. It has a pyramidal crown and small narrow leaves.

Forms of sessile oak:

• f. pendula - weeping form, characterized by a drooping weeping crown;
• f. purpurea - purple form, young leaves have a dark purple color, later changing to rich green;
• f. variegata is a variegated form with white-variegated leaves.

Red oak shapes

• F. aurea is a golden form. The height of an adult tree does not exceed 15 meters. The leaves are large and have pointed edges. The color of the leaves is rich bronze.

Among the Slavic peoples, oak has long been considered a symbol of male power and the personification of the power of the people. Therefore, it was customary to reward royalty or simply distinguished people in the old days not only with gifts, but also with a wreath of oak branches.

Where and how does oak grow.

Nowadays in the world there are more than 450 different species of this tree. Now oak is widespread not only in Europe and Asia, but also in America and even Africa. This is one of the most tall trees, often reaching a height of 50 m and, most surprisingly, up to 5 m in girth. There are quite a few trees of this height in the world, but only oak can boast of such power.

What else is oak known for?

Oak is especially appreciated because of the beautiful and very durable wood, from which is made especially expensive, luxury furniture. It reproduces by fruits called acorns. The oak fruit ripens, like the fruits of others - in the fall. They are rich in starch. Sometimes they are used to prepare a surrogate drink that tastes like coffee, and in ancient times, and even more recently, in the second world war and during the famine of them cooked bread .

Their oak leaves in antiquity brewed medicinal decoction, which relieved gum disease, healed stab and cut wounds, helped stop external and internal bleeding.