Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Pinnately lobed with 5 to 7 deep lobes that feature bristled tips and wide, rounded sinuses
Margin
Lobed with bristled tips on the lobes and entire edges along the sinuses
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and raised secondary veins
Key Features
Deeply cut lobes with bristled tips, wide U-shaped sinuses, smooth lower leaf surfaces except for occasional vein axil tufts, and the distinctive downward-pointing lower branches of the tree
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit where lower branches droop, middle branches grow horizontally, and upper branches point upward. It produces small acorns and features deeply cut, elegant leaves that turn a striking bronze in autumn.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and poorly drained uplands, preferring acidic soils and full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from the Northeast down to the Gulf Coast and west to the Great Plains, widely planted as an urban street tree