Creaking Oak Tree

The ancient oak tree creaks softly as the wind pushes against it. The branches quiver ever so slightly and return to their graceful posture. The tree is home to squirrels and birds and they race through it in pursuit of food and one another. The oak stands tall and proud revered by time itself. An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus (/ˈkwɜrkəs/ Latin "oak tree"), having approximately 600 extant species. The common name "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus. The genus is native to the Northern Hemisphere, and includesdeciduous and evergreen species extending from cool temperate to tropical latitudes in Asia and the Americas. The center of endemism is regarded as North America, particularly Mexico. Oaks have spirally arranged leaves, with lobed margins in many species; some have serrated leaves or entire leaves with smooth margins. Many deciduous species are marcescent, not dropping dead leaves until spring.