RNR 2001 final - red vs white oaks

Red Oak Bark

tight, smoothish or ridged and furrowed but not flaky/scaly; color medium gray to black

White Oak Bark

loose and usually flaky/scaly; light-colored, color whitish to pale gray

bristle tips on leaves for red oaks

present

bristle tips on leaves for white oaks

usually absent

cupule scales on red oaks

flattened, never tuberculate, never embedded in tomentum

cupule scales on white oaks

thickened, tuberculate, or embedded in tomentum

pericarp inner surface - red oaks

densely tomentose or silky over entire inner surface

pericarp inner surface - white oak

glabrous or somewhat sparesely and irregularly hairy, not densely tomentose over entire inner surface

acorn maturation - red oaks

biennial

acorn maturation - white oaks

annual

acorn germination time - red oaks

spring

acorn germination time - white oaks

fall

growth rate - red oaks

relatively fast

growth rates - white oaks

relatively slow

tyloses in heartwood - red oaks

absent or few

tyloses in heartwood - white oaks

present and numerous, making it ideal for boatbuilding and barrels

wood durability - red oaks

less durable

wood durability - white oaks

more durable - rot resistant; better for outdoor construction

red oak color

pinkish/reddish

white oak color

olive

red oak taste

sweeter, less tannins

white oak taste

less sweet, more tannins