oak: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Sep. 26, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	Quercus

Photos and Videos

A solitary Quercus robur oak tree with orange and yellow autumn leaves stands in an open field with a faint line of trees in the distant background.

Northern red oak

Field of bluebells

Close-up of bur oak tree branches with lobed green leaves and several round acorns, Quercus macrocarpa.

Northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

Watch an acorn sprout and grow into an oak seedling

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Topics

California scrub oak southern live oak canyon live oak scrub oak blackjack oak northern pin oak Aleppo oak California live oak Shumard oak Holm oak pine poplar birch fir teak coconut palm chestnut Cherry maple ash

Field of baobab trees, Madagascar. (bottle tree)

Trees of the World

Spreading oak tree in summer. (green, leaves, deciduous, shade)

Trees: Giants Holding the Sky

Venus's-flytrap. Venus's-flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) one of the best known of the meat-eating plants. Carnivorous plant, Venus flytrap, Venus fly trap

Plants: From Cute to Carnivorous