Quercus01

There are more than 60 species of Oak in North America of which are divided into two groups: White Oak, and Red Oak. In the Pacific Northwest, the Gary Oak (Quercus Garryana) is most common, while in Mexico (around Oaxaca) the Netleaf Oak (Quercus Reticulata) and the Mexican Blue Oak (Quercus Oblongifolia) is most common.

The acorns of all Oaks are edible, some native tribes of the Pacific Northwest soaked the nuts to leach out the tannins which make the nuts less bitter when dried, roasted, or steamed. The wood has been used for generations for small digging tools, combs, fire fuel, furniture, and construction of dwellings. The Saanich tribe on Vancouver Island were said to have used a decoction of Oak bark in a recipe for a medicine used for tuberculosis and other ailments.

Of the 38 species of oaks in the SE, 17 are white oaks and 21 red oaks. Oaks are extremely abundant in the SE and of immense value economically and environmentally. Acorns are so important as food for wildlife that success or failure of an annual crop can be a major factor in winter survival. Some of the mammals that commonly include acorns in their diet are deer, hogs, bears, rats, squirrels, and raccoons; among birds are bluejays, woodpeckers, ducks, and wild turkeys. Foliage and twigs may be poisonous when eaten in considerable quantity. Oak lumber is hard, tough, durable, the porous wood stains well, and its uses are too extensive to enumerate. Several species of oaks are used as ornamentals.