Shaggy cap and size would seem to indicate bur oak, Quercus macrocarpa. As to how it got there, how far can a squirrel travel??

Thanks. Yes, I believe we have bur oaks around, but not near me, I think. Didn't know they produced hand grenade nuts like this. I now read that their acorns are the largest produced by any oak. And yes, some stout squirrel must have dragged it a ways.

I understand that bur oaks have mast years like most other acorn bearing oaks, which is maybe why I hadn't seen them before.

Actually it looks a bit different than typical burr oak acorns, but there's always variability.

It's bur with variability. It has a shorter cap then usual.

Dax

is the cap shorter.. or the meat just huger ...

thats akin to me saying my tshirt has shrunk .. because it doesnt fit over my belly anymore.. lol ... nawww... it cant be my belly ... lol

ken

I suspect bur oak, as well, but it could be a hybrid of bur with another member of the white oak group.

There is wide variation in bur oak - both in leaves, corkiness of bark, and in acorns.

I have seedlings in my collection from south TX to Manitoba... acorns range in size from >100/lb to 6/lb (yes, that's six per pound); caps may almost completely enclose the acorn or not... and I have seen some that had virtually no 'fringe' on their cap while others are so 'frilly' that you can barely see the acorn hidden in there.

I think I've seen larger fruited named selections made with eating in mind mentioned. These would be likely to have originated as seedling variants.

The farther west and south you go in Q.macrocarpa's native range, the larger the acorn size.

I first got involved with growing and collecting bur oak selections due to the 'shock value' of those large acorns... but then came to appreciate all the aesthetics this species brings to the table... as well as its potential as a human and animal food source.