Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech/Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Oblong to obovate with 5 to 7 deep, narrow lobes and bristled tips
Margin
Lobed with bristled teeth at the tips of the lobes
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and branching secondary veins extending into the lobes.
Key Features
Deeply cut lobes with bristle tips, lower drooping branches that persist on the trunk even when dead, and small acorns with saucer-like caps.
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit, where upper branches point upward, middle branches grow horizontally, and lower branches droop downward. The leaves feature deeply cut lobes that reach almost to the midrib, ending in sharp bristles.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and around the borders of swamps.
Native Range
Native to the eastern and central United States, extending from southwestern Ontario down to Oklahoma and Georgia.