Persimmon fruits (Diospyros virginiana) and acorns (Quercus
spp.) are two excellent examples of soft and hard mast found in the eastern
forest. Mast is a term used to describe seeds and fruits produced by woody
plants. Soft mast consists of berries, buds, etc., and hard mast consists of
nuts and seeds such as beech nuts and buckeyes. Persimmons and acorns in
particular are eaten by a wide range of animals including deer, turkey,
squirrels, raccoons, mice, opossums, and many species of birds. Persimmons are
also prized by humans for eating and using in baked goods. However, most of the
commercially available persimmons are from Asian species. Acorns too, are
edible by humans, but contain large amounts of tannins making them very bitter
and require quite a bit of processing to make them safe for consumption. It is
best to leave these wild fruits for the myriad of eastern forest wildlife who
are fattening up and storing food for the upcoming winter season.
