Acorn Production

• Oaks have both the male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers on the same tree. Each female flower has six ovules at its base that contain ova or eggs. Stigmas rise up from the ovules to receive pollen grains from the male flowers (usually from other oak trees in the same area). The pollen fertilizes one ovule on each flower and that ovule matures into an acorn.
  
  

Red vs. White Oak

• Oak trees generally fall into either the red oak or white oak group. Acorns on white oak mature in one year, while acorns on red oak take two years to mature.
  
  

Considerations

• Acorn production varies each year, mostly because of external factors, such as the weather and insects, but also due to the genetic framework of a particular oak family. Very few acorns survive to sprout and produce new oak trees, because acorns are food for many animals.