Examples: White Oak (Quercus alba), English Oak (Quercus robur), Red Oak (Quercus rubra ), Black Oak (Quercus velutina), Northern Pin Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis), etc. (Did you know that there's even a Willow Oak [Quercus phellos] native to the eastern United States? It has leaves shaped like a willow, but bears acorns and really is an oak! Talk about your paradoxes!)
     The Oak is the tree most often associated with Druids. The word "door" comes from the Gaelic and Sanskrit "duir," a word for solidity, protection, and the Oak tree. There is much lore associated with this most venerable of trees. The Oak is the doorway to inner spirituality in the Ogham and represents primeval strength and the ability to overcome and survive. May is the Oak month. Oak bestows the qualities of protection, healing, financial success, sexual potency, fertility, and general good luck. Acorns are used as fertility charms.
     The astringent inner bark tea from the White Oak was once used for chronic diarrhea, dysentery, chronic mucous discharge, bleeding, anal prolapse, piles; as a gargle for sore throats and a wash for skin eruptions, poison ivy rash, burns; hemostatic. Folk cancer remedy. The Northern Red Oak is considered similar to but weaker than the White Oak. Contains tannins. Experimentally, tannic acid is antiviral, antiseptic, antitumor, and carcinogenic.
     Warning: Tannic acid is potentially toxic.
     The Oak likes a dry, mineral soil (usually a sandy loam). Since they can grow up to 115 feet in height, they need plenty of room! I have three Pin Oaks, sacred to the Goddess Brighid, in my worship grove, and a lone Red Oak standing sentinel in my side yard. Wherever there is a forest on upland soil, chances are you will find a mighty oak as the protector and overseer of the forest.
     Do not stand under an oak during a storm, as they tend to draw lightning.

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