A baby-acorn of red oak on a branch fallen perhaps from the
middle part of the crown. Acorns of red oak are borne mostly
singly at the bottom of current-year shoots. It takes two years
for the red-oak acorns to ripen. This is not unique: some oaks grow acorns in
one year, others in two. In species with a two-year growth span, such as
this, fertilization takes place only after a year upon pollination.