An autumn walk in the forest invites you to bend down and admire beautiful leaves. Everyone recognizes the leaf of an oak tree. Its shape and jagged edges make it unique. Nevertheless, each oak species has its own variant.

Oak leaves are unmistakable

Species-typical leaves in the oak family

There are more than 600 oak species worldwide. The dozen species that can be found in this country alone all produce slightly different leaves. What they all have in common is the presence of so-called indentations. Apart from that, they differed in terms of leaf shape, length and colouring.

The leaves of a pedunculate oak

The most common type of oak in Germany is the pedunculate oak, also known as the German oak. You will surely come across their leaves at some point, so we want to describe them here in more detail.

  • are about 15 cm long
  • have a comparatively short stem
  • 4 to 7 indentations per leaf side
  • the leaf margins are smooth
  • Leaf tops are dark green
  • The undersides of the leaves, on the other hand, are blue-green
  • in autumn they turn golden brown

This type of oak has a short leaf stalk and yet it is called English oak. This is because their acorns hang from a long stalk. You are responsible for the naming.

The leaves of a sessile oak

And here are the leaf characteristics of the second most common oak species in Germany:

  • funnel-shaped indentations
  • Leaves are about 20 long and 9 cm wide
  • Leaf tops are green, the undersides lighter
  • New growth is hairy and reddish
  • in autumn they assume yellow colouring

Unknown leaf specimens

The leaves of the different types of oak are so diverse that only a tree specialist can tell them apart with certainty. If you are interested in identifying discovered specimens more closely, you will find a number of websites that allow you to do so using photos and detailed descriptions.

When do the leaves sprout?

The oak is a deciduous tree that needs new leaves every year. The old ones turn yellow-brown in autumn and fall off. The sessile oak keeps the dried leaves on the branches until spring, which is why it is also called the winter oak.

New leaves sprout in May, at the same time as flower buds during the fattening years. Depending on the weather and location, new growth can begin as early as April or as late as June.

Coating, deformations and premature wilting

Certainly no oak leaf is exactly shaped like the neighboring specimen. But if you have an oak tree in the garden and many of the leaves show unnatural deviations, you should take a closer look. Diseases such as powdery mildew and various pests could be responsible. Perhaps the oak needs your help.

The taste of the leaves

Oak leaves are not poisonous, but they taste so bitter that hardly anyone likes to eat them. They can be dried, ground and mixed with salt in small amounts. The ingredients are intended to be healthy.

Category:

Trees