Other Names: Duir (Celtic), sometimes called red oak and mistaken for black or pin oak
Number of Species: Over 600
Family: Fagaceae
Genus/Species: Quercus coccinea
Leaf: Simple lobed alternate, deciduous, 3–7 inches in length with 5–7 pointed lobes, dark green above and paler below. Leaves turn scarlet red in the fall. Buds are white and fuzzy.
Bark: Dark gray and deeply furrowed with age. Inner bark has a reddish color.
Fruit: Brown acorn when mature, up to an inch in length; the cap can cover up to half the top portion of the nut. All acorns are true nuts and quite edible, but they must be shelled first, just like removing a peanut from its shell. Also, the tannin must be leached out first. I suggest watching videos on YouTube for tutorials. The process is quite simple but time-consuming.
Magickal Properties and Lore: Power, rulership, might, protection, health, healing, money, fertility, luck, and victory in war and battles. The oak, however, is a tree of peace and harmony. Oak was considered sacred to the Druids and some ancient Europeans. Twigs of oak can be brought into the home to ward evil. Acorns can be placed in windowsills to protect from lightning and can be carried to attract luck. The wood makes a powerful wand or staff. Many ancient Celts and Europeans associated the oak with deities of weather, especially the gods of thunder and lightning.
Practical Uses: The wood is often marketed as red oak, but is lesser quality and weaker. Acorns in general provide nourishment to many birds, animals, and humans; however, they contain tannic acid, and this can be toxic in large amounts, causing pain in the stomach, thirst, severe diarrhea, and excessive urination. The tannin can be boiled out, but it is, like with all plants, best that you consult a professional first before using any plant for medicinal purposes.