Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Lobed (typically 5 to 7 deep-sinus lobes with bristly tips)
Margin
Bristle-tipped, deeply lobed margins with smooth edges between the bristle points
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig with a slender petiole
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent midrib and branching lateral veins extending into the lobes
Key Features
Deeply cut sinuses that extend almost to the midrib, bristle-tipped leaf lobes, lower drooping branches that often persist on the trunk as dead pins, and small acorns with saucer-like caps
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its distinctive pyramidal form when young and its unusual branching habit where upper branches point upward, middle branches spread horizontally, and lower branches droop downward. The leaves feature deeply cut sinuses and bristle-tipped lobes that turn a striking russet-brown in autumn, often persisting on the tree well into winter.
Habitat
Typically found in damp or swampy bottomland soils, poorly drained heavy clay soils, and along floodplains
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, widely planted as a street and park tree due to its adaptability