Scarlet oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet oak |
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| Tree in autumn | |
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Quercus
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| Species: |
coccinea
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The scarlet oak (scientific name: Quercus coccinea) is a beautiful type of oak tree. It belongs to the group of red oaks. Sometimes, people might confuse the scarlet oak with other similar trees like the pin oak, the black oak, or the red oak.
You can often tell a scarlet oak apart by looking at its leaves. The spaces between the leaf lobes (the "fingers" of the leaf) are shaped like the letter "C". In contrast, the pin oak has "U"-shaped spaces. Also, the acorns of the scarlet oak are about half covered by a deep cap.
This tree mostly grows in the central and eastern parts of the United States. You can find it from southern Maine all the way west to Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri. It also grows south into states like Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. Scarlet oaks prefer dry, sandy soils that are usually a bit acidic. They are often a very important tree in oak–heath forests, forming part of the main tree cover.
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What Does the Scarlet Oak Look Like?
The scarlet oak is a medium to large deciduous tree. This means it loses its leaves every autumn. It can grow to be about 20 to 30 meters (67 to 100 feet) tall. It has a wide, rounded shape at the top, which is called its crown.
Scarlet Oak Leaves
The leaves of the scarlet oak are shiny green. They are usually 7 to 17 centimeters (2.8 to 6.8 inches) long and 8 to 13 centimeters (3.2 to 5.2 inches) wide. Each leaf has seven deep lobes, which look like fingers. Each lobe also has small, pointy tips that look like bristles. Unlike some other oaks, the leaves of the scarlet oak are smooth and don't have hairs.
The name "scarlet oak" comes from the amazing color its leaves turn in autumn. They usually become a bright, fiery scarlet red. This is different from the pin oak, whose leaves often turn a bronze color in the fall.
Scarlet Oak Acorns
The acorns of the scarlet oak are oval-shaped. They are about 7 to 13 millimeters wide and 17 to 31 millimeters long. A deep cap covers about one-third to one-half of the acorn. They start out green and turn a pale brown about 18 months after the tree is pollinated. The inside of the acorn is very bitter.
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Foliage and male flower in May, Exbury, UK
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Autumn foliage, Ewing, New Jersey
How People Use Scarlet Oak Trees
Scarlet oaks are sometimes planted as ornamental trees. This means people plant them in gardens and parks because they are pretty. They are especially popular because of their bright red color in the fall. One special type of scarlet oak, called 'Splendens', has even won an award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for being a great garden plant.
Images for kids
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Picture of a grown Quercus coccinea tree.
See also
In Spanish: Roble escarlata para niños
