Look at that lovely nut on the ground. It has got tough, leathery shell and a large cap. Congratulations! You have just found totoro’s favorite, which is the fruit of oak trees, or acorns. It is too heavy to be carried by the wind, so it might have been brought here by a squirrel. Thanks to those hoarders who keep lots of caches, acorns are planted in various locations in which it is possible for them to germinate and thrive.
Now let’s take a closer look at the mother of the fruit. Oak trees can grow in any place where there is sufficient water in the soil. The roots absorb water and minerals from underground. Oak trees are wise to grow roots sideways since a deep, broad root system can enable them to survive in a harsh environment. The straight and strong trunk serves as an important passage. The xylem transports water and minerals from the roots upwards, while the phloem transports sugars from the leaves to the rest of the tree.
The leaves of the oak trees are arranged, one leaf to a stem, on alternating sides of the twig. They have an adorable shape, with rounded lobes on either side of the main vein. Chlorophyll in those leaves traps energy from sunlight and uses it to convert water and carbon dioxide into food. The process of photosynthesis produces energy for the whole tree.
When you are admiring the towering cap of the tree, don’t forget to look for its flowers in beautiful spring times. The male flowers hang in showy, long, yellowish-green clusters called catkins, while the shy female flowers hide themselves among the leaves. All oak trees are usually in full bloom by early April.
Not only pleasant to the eye, oak trees provide various products for human beings. The bark is rich in tannin, which is used in curing leather and as an astringent. The wood, strong and rot-resistant, is used to construct buildings, furniture, barrels and ships. Those acorns, mostly consumed by animals, are also used for making flour or roasted for acorn coffee.
So next time you find an acorn. Pray that it is not a hard seed that does not split open at maturity. Pray that it will grow into a majestic tree and live for more than 600 years. Pray that it will produce more acorns and its future generations will survive and thrive.
