Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Oblovate to oblong with 5 to 7 deeply lobed sinuses that extend nearly to the midrib
Margin
Lobed with bristle-tipped teeth at the ends of the lobes
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, pale central midrib and major lateral veins extending into each lobe
Key Features
Deeply lobed sinuses reaching nearly to the midrib, bristle-tipped lobe margins, and lower branches that persist on the trunk even when dead, giving the tree its signature pin-like twiggy appearance.
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree renowned for its distinctive branch habit where upper branches point upward, middle branches grow horizontally, and lower branches droop downward. It produces deeply cut, glossy green leaves that turn rich bronze or red in autumn.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and poorly drained upland depressions, thriving in full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from Ontario south to Arkansas and Georgia, widely planted as an urban street tree