Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple leaf, deciduous
Shape
Lobed (palmately lobed), typically with 5 to 7 deep lobes that extend almost to the midrib, each lobe possessing several bristle-tipped teeth
Margin
Deeply lobed with bristle-tipped teeth
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, pale yellow-green midrib and primary veins
Key Features
Deep sinuses extending almost to the midrib, bristle-tipped lobe lobes, and the characteristic drooping lower branches of the mature tree
Description
Quercus palustris, the Pin Oak, is a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit where upper branches grow upward, middle branches grow horizontally, and lower branches droop downward toward the ground. It features dark brown bark, small acorns with saucer-like caps, and brilliant autumn foliage.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland forests, floodplains, along streams, and poorly drained upland soils; prefers acidic soils and full sun
Native Range
Native to the eastern and central United States, extending from New England west to Kansas and south to Arkansas and North Carolina. It is native to southern and lower Michigan, and widely planted as an urban street tree
Notes
Let me know if it’s native to Michigan