What grows from an acorn?

What grows from an acorn? An oak tree grows from an acorn. Botanically, an acorn is the fruit of an oak in the genus Quercus and contains a single seed protected by a hard shell and a cup-like cap called a cupule.

When conditions are suitable, the embryo inside the acorn germinates. Its first root usually grows downward, anchoring the seedling and seeking water, while the shoot eventually grows upward toward light. The young plant initially relies on stored nutrients in the acorn before its first leaves become effective at photosynthesis. If the acorn dries out, rots, or is eaten, it will not produce a tree.

Acorns are also an important food source for squirrels, jays, deer, wild turkeys, and other animals. Some animals bury them and fail to recover every one, unintentionally helping oaks spread. The answer is sometimes phrased simply as “oak,” but “oak tree” is the complete everyday answer. Different oak species produce acorns with different sizes, shapes, cups, and maturation times; some mature in one growing season, while others take two years.