Mast (botany)

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Mast is the edible vegatative or reproductive part produced by woody species of plants, i.e. trees and shrubs, that wildlife species and some domestic animals consume. It comes in two forms.

[edit] Hard mast

Tree species such as oak, hickory and beech produce a hard mast - acorns, hickory nuts, and beechnuts. It has been traditional to turn pigs into forests to fatten on this form of mast. Also branch tips of the latest year's growth are eaten by some wildlife, such as deer.

[edit] Soft mast

Other tree and shrub species produce a soft mast - leaf buds, catkins, true berries, drupes, and rose hips.