Acorns are a sure sign of fall. Whenever I see acorns on the ground, I know that the leaves are turning soon. Read more to find out some interesting facts.

Characteristics of Acorns?

Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree, however they are actually a nut. Different species of oak trees produce acorns that are unique to them. They are considered a nut because the seed is enclosed in a tough leathery shell. This helps protect the seed. Nuts are round to oblong shaped depending on the species of oak. The nut is held in a cup shaped cupule. That is the brown cup that holds the nut to the tree. Cupules also vary in shape and size. Overall, acorns are 1-6 cm long and about 1-4 cm wide.

How are Acorns dispersed?

Acorns are the fruit of oak trees. Each acorn contains one seed or sometimes two that can produce an oak seedling. They need sunlight, cold, and water to germinate. Laying under the canopy of the tree is not a great place to germinate an acorn. So how do these fruits get to an optimal place to germinate? Obviously, this large heavy nut doesn’t blow in the wind.  Usually, they fall straight down off the tree. Oak trees depend on hoarding animals such as squirrels to help disperse the seeds. Unripe eaten acorns will not produce a seedling when defecated by the bird or mammal. As a result, this makes survival more difficult.

Food for Wildlife

Many people know that squirrels love acorns. They store them for food for the winter. Larger mammals like deer, bear, and pigs also feast on them.  Birds such as woodpeckers, ducks, and blue jays eat them too.

These nuts provide valuable nutrition for wildlife. They are great sources of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. They even contain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and potassium. It sounds like they would also be a great food source in a survival situation. Unfortunately, acorns contain a high level of tannins. As a result, they are difficult for people to eat without the right preparation. When squirrels store acorns, over time, the ground water leaches tannins from the nuts. Other animals eat a variety of foods, so they do not consume too many tannins at once. Tannins can be boiled out of the nuts; however, it takes several boil / rinse cycles to remove them. Different species of oak tree acorns have different amounts of tannins.

Find Out More

First, here is a great article about eating these nuts.

Second, this article provides some basic facts.

Finally, read about Chestnut Oak trees, where to find them and their nuts.