Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple deciduous leaf
Shape
Pinnately lobed with 5 to 7 deep lobes, featuring sharply toothed lobe tips
Margin
Lobed with bristly-tipped teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and branching secondary veins
Key Features
Deeply cut sinuses extending almost to the midrib, bristly-tipped lobes, and drooping lower branches that remain on the tree for years (giving it the 'pin' oak name from the small pin-like knots left when branches drop)
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit where upper branches point upward, middle branches are horizontal, and lower branches droop toward the ground. The leaves feature deeply cut sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes, turning a rich bronze or red in autumn.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and poorly drained uplands
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, widely planted in urban environments across temperate zones