Pin Oak (Swamp Spanish Oak)
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Lobed with 5 to 7 deep, narrow sinuses extending almost to the midrib, wedge-shaped base
Margin
Lobed with bristle-tipped teeth on the lobe ends
Arrangement
Alternate along the twig
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent pale yellowish midrib and primary veins
Key Features
Deeply cut lobes with bristle tips, distinctive drooping lower branches, and small round acorns with a saucer-like cap
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit: upper branches grow upward, middle branches extend horizontally, and lower branches droop downward. It produces small, rounded acorns and features deep green, deeply lobed leaves that provide dense shade and vibrant autumn coloration.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomlands, floodplains, and poorly drained soils, though frequently planted in urban parks and yards due to its adaptability
Native Range
Native to the eastern and central United States and parts of southeastern Canada, ranging from Massachusetts west to Kansas and south to Arkansas and North Carolina