Pin Oak (Swamp Spanish Oak)
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Lobed with deep sinuses, oblong to obovate, typically featuring 5 to 7 lobes with bristle-tips
Margin
Lobed with bristles at the tips of the lobes
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent central midrib and primary veins extending into each lobe
Key Features
Deeply lobed leaves with bristle-tipped points, very deep sinuses extending almost to the midrib, and lower branches that characteristically point downward toward the ground
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its distinctive branch habit where lower branches droop, middle branches are horizontal, and upper branches ascend. It produces small acorns and features deeply cut, brilliant green leaves that turn vibrant bronze-red in autumn.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and along the borders of swamps, preferring acidic soils and full sun
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from New England west to Kansas, and south to Arkansas and North Carolina; widely planted as an urban street tree