You are bidding on 12 WATER OAK ACORNS - Quercus nigra .
This is native to the southeastern United States .
It is a medium-sized deciduous tree, growing to (100 ft) tall with a trunk up to (3 ft) in diameter.
It serves the same ecological role as Weeping Willow and other wetland trees. It is adapted to wet, swampy areas, such as along ponds and stream banks, but can also tolerate other well-drained sites and even heavy, compacted soils.
The acorns are arranged singly or in pairs, 1/3-1/2 in long and broad, with a shallow cupule; they mature about 18 months after pollination in fall of second year.
Zone: 6 to 9
Medicinal use : Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of hemorrhages , chronic diarrhea, dysentery etc.
Edible parts : Seed - cooked. A staple food for some native North American Indian tribes. The seed is about 15 cm long and wide, it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost.
The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.
Other uses : Wood - heavy, hard, strong, close-grained. It weighs 45 lb per cubic foot. It is used for cross-ties and poles, but is little valued except as a fuel.