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| Acorn Watch 2022 continues with a look at a volunteer Shumard oak (Quercus shumardii). This tree entered the catalogue some time before 2012, but its exact age is unknown. However, we know that it is old enough to produce acorns! |
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| For the photoshoot, our Shumard oak is wearing a pink sash. The ribbon truly brings out the bumpiness of the ridges, don't you think? The pink ribbon is 4 feet off the ground, and at this height the trunk has a circumference of 21 inches. |
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| As we see in the above photo, the pink flare helps us pick out the Shumard from its surroundings. Even though it stands near a sidewalk, the Shumard is easy to miss. All of its lower limbs have been removed, so we only see the trunk at eye level. Both the light pole and the emergency call station draw our gaze away from the trunk of the tree. |
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| The Shumard oak grows toward the top of a gradual slope. It competes for sunlight with two nearby persimmons. Two older Shumards are nearby, just north of this volunteer. |
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| Leaves are dark green, simple, and lobed. The petiole is nearly 2 inches long, while the blade is approximately 6 inches long. |
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| Underneath, leaves are a lighter shade of green and mostly smooth. |
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| Taking a closer look, we see the characteristic fuzzy spots along the midrib. |
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| This leaf measures about 4 inches across. |
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| Leaf edges are bristly. In this snapshot, there are at minimum 10 bristles. |
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| While standing on the ground, it is possible to see several large clusters of acorns; however, a ladder was necessary to take a few photos. |
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| Maturing Shumard acorns, photographed September 4, 2022 |
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| The acorn cap looks flat, rather than rounded like a bowl as many other acorns are. |
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| This acorn is already of a nice size, measuring over ½ inch. |
