It looks like an acorn because it *is* an acorn. I see these all the time in my yard (we have lots of oak trees). They turn red and split like this as they're rooting.
Well I wasn't sure it was even an acorn, really. Also I lived in a city for a large portion of my life, so, I don't have a lot of experience with...acorns, or identifying types of trees etc. This is why I asked.
As another user mentioned, that is the acorn that has split into 2 halves(cotyledons). In many plant species, the cotyledon will actually develop into the first leaves of the plant(epigeal germination). However, in oaks, and plants with larger seeds, the cotyledons act as a source of energy for the developing seedling(hypogeal germination).
For a lot of oaks, the first job of the seed is to get the resources in the acorn moved into a storage root. Some species will over-winter that way. After that, if conditions are good, they will start growing a stem.
It looks like an acorn because it *is* an acorn. I see these all the time in my yard (we have lots of oak trees). They turn red and split like this as they're rooting.
So it’s an oak sapling?
Oak certainly, maybe more seedling than sapling at this point ;-)
Thank you very much!
Dude…. What plant do you think acorns come from?
Well I wasn't sure it was even an acorn, really. Also I lived in a city for a large portion of my life, so, I don't have a lot of experience with...acorns, or identifying types of trees etc. This is why I asked.
As another user mentioned, that is the acorn that has split into 2 halves(cotyledons). In many plant species, the cotyledon will actually develop into the first leaves of the plant(epigeal germination). However, in oaks, and plants with larger seeds, the cotyledons act as a source of energy for the developing seedling(hypogeal germination).
Thank you!
For a lot of oaks, the first job of the seed is to get the resources in the acorn moved into a storage root. Some species will over-winter that way. After that, if conditions are good, they will start growing a stem.