Red Oak

Basic Information
Tree ID: 
205
Family: 
Fagaceae
Genus and species: 
Quercus rubra
Description: 
This massive red oak is located in the center of science hill, near the Yale Science building and in front of Kline tower. Measuring over 70 feet tall and with a canopy area of over 400 square meters, this tree provides shade and a beautiful view to all who pass by it. Like all red oak, it has fissured and sturdy gray-brown bark and numerous branches, some which dangle dangerously close to the footpath.
Surveyors: 
Sirs Jacob Tyler and Demilade Omolade
Location
Area: 
Prospect and Sachem
Collected Data
Tree shape: 
Round
Date of tree entry: 
02/04/2026
Height: 
22.46 m
Diameter at breast height: 
1.04 m

Bark
The bark of this tree is fissured, sturdy, and gray-brown.
Twigs & branches
The branches of this tree have thick bases that connect to the trunk, with smaller less thick branches that extend from the thicker branches that also branch off into thin branches with pollen at the tips.
Foilage
The foilage of this tree is not present year round: in the winter, it disappears. However, in the spring, the foilage has begun to return in the form of small green bulges. The red oak also typically has leaves, but it loses them in the winter and regains them in the spring.
Reproductive Structures
These are all pictures of male flowers, called catkins, which release pollen. Female flowers are also present on the tree, but they are smaller. When pollinated, these female flowers become acorns, which are the fruit produced by red oak trees.
Fruit
This is an image of the acorn that the red oak produces. Red oaks follow a unique two year reproductive cycle, in which a pollinated female flower doesn't become an acorn until its second fall. In the first year, the female flower is pollinated and continues to look like a small acorn. In the second fall, the acorns grow, ripen, and fall off of the tree.
Seasons
  • February - Winter Image
  • March - Early Spring
  • April - Mid Spring
Research
Natural range of distribution: 
Habitat: 
The red oak is naturally found in the central and eastern regions of the United States and Canada. It prefers the well-drained, slightly acidic soils often found in these regions. Though today, red oaks can be found outside of North America in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, these populations are a result of human introduction.
Origin, history, and uses: 

Origin: Red oaks belong to the Fagaceae family and geologically; they are thought to have existed for over 50 million years. 

Indigenous History and Uses: Red oak’s accorns are high in the naturally bitter compounds called tannins. Therefore, indigenous peoples of America would crush the accorns and soak them in running water or boil them in wood ash to remove the tannins. Eventually, they can turned into flour. 

The bark of the red oak can be used in decoctions to treat chronic diarrhea, sores, and respiratory issues. 

Industrial History and Uses:

Because red oaks are faster growing than other hardwoods, it was a reliable for a timber for American colonies. The tannins in them were crucial for the leather tanning industry. 

Phenology: 
Like most deciduous trees native to temperate climates, the red oak's biological calendar is governed by changes in day length and temperature. During early spring (April to May), the buds of the red oak swell and open in response to the increasing temperature. As these buds develop into sexually mature flowers, leaves begin to unfurl. During summer months (June to August), the tree uses the abundant sunlight to produce energy to develop its fruit. Pea-sized acorns will emerge, however, these acorns will not fully mature until the summer of the next calendar year. During autumn (September to October), the tree leaves turn bronze, red, and dark brown in response to the shortening day length and temperature drop. If the acorns are mature, they will drop. During winter months, the tree becomes dormant. It produces proteins in its cells to prevent crystals from rupturing cell walls. The buds that would unfurl in the coming months are encased in touch terminal scales to keep them insulated.
References: 

Foster, J. (n.d.). Red oak tree – A complete guide to what you need to know (Quercus rubra). GrowIt BuildIT. https://growitbuildit.com/red-oak-quercus-rubra/

Lake Forest College. (n.d.). Quercus rubra (red oak). https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/environmental-stu…

Media and Arts
AttachmentSize
Audio icon Song: "I am the Red Oak"1.04 MB

I am the red oak 

My leaves turn red in fall

I am the red oak

My wood is tan, my bark is gray

I am the oak, 

I am only found in the eastern and central North America 

I am the oak 

For over 50 millions year

I have covered this land

Natives used my acorns for flour

They even turned my bark  

Into a medicine that could cure you of diarrhea 

So now you see, there’s more to me

The early colonies used me to build their houses

I even helped the leather tanning industry out

So the next time you see me, 

You pay me respect

I am the red oak

I am a deciduous tree

In the spring time,

My buds unfurl into yellow flowers

In the summer, 

I will collect sunlight so my pea sized acorns can emerge

In the winter time, 

I will go quiet

By then all my leaves are gone, 

But at the break of spring you will them again,

So the next time you walk up this beautiful hill, 

Look carefully and you will see

That a 70 foot strong and massive red oak

Is calling you to come closer and rest under its canopy

Sir. Jacob Tyler and Demilade can vouch for it

You will certainly enjoy its cooldown shade

So don’t be shy and come closer

And you will find,  that this big, fat, massive, science hill, red oak is great. 

It is. It’s great. 

Shrub Canopy Area: 
405.85sq.m.