Oak is a genus of trees and shruily ae).
The genus includes about 600 species. The natural range of oak is the Northern Hemisphere regions with a temperate climate. The southern border of distribution is the tropical highlands; a few species are also found south of the equator.
The oak is well recognized for its fruits, acorns, which are essentially nuts.
Most oaks are healthy, dense trees. Many species of this genus belong to the so-called evergreen species, which means they have leathery leaves that remain on the plant for several years. Others have leaves that fall off annually or, when dry, remain on the tree and decay gradually. Most evergreen species have solid leaves, others have lobed leaves. Flowers are monodomous: male and female on the same plant. Female flowers form small tufts or sepals, while male flo
