Oak Mysteries, Continued
We may have three species of oaks instead of two. By the pond this morning I found that the oaks nearer the pond have less rough bark and the sorts of leaves that have deep sinuses from the previous post.
However some of the oaks standing back from the pond have much rougher bark. Some of their leaves are still on, and they are a different shape than the other two. Oblong with a distinct tip, so definitely a member of the red oak group.
Here are the acorns I found along the fence line yesterday. They are nearly spherical and have a very pronounced tip on the end. The cap is more bumpy than flaky or scaly. As far as I can tell with my limited vision.
How is all this pertinent to permaculture? I'm still working on my maps, and will be for the duration of the course. The base map didn't have any trees on it because any of these trees may be removed. None of them are hands off. However, that doesn't mean they all go either. They do all have to be mapped out as I make a plan. And they need to properly be identified for species.
Why does that matter?
Did you know that some acorns drop the same seasonal year they start forming, while others drop two seasonal years after they start forming, while the next round of acorns are budding? That pattern has a lot to do with the interdependent species in the environment. That has to be taken into account.
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