Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Pinnately lobed, oblong to obovate, featuring 5 to 7 deep lobes with bristle-tipped teeth
Margin
Lobed with bristle-tipped teeth and very deep sinuses that extend almost to the midrib
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent, pale yellowish-green midrib and branching secondary veins
Key Features
Deeply cut lobes with bristle tips, very deep sinuses extending toward the midrib, and the unique branch growth habit where lower branches point downward.
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree known for its distinctively pyramidal form when young, featuring characteristic lower drooping branches, middle horizontal branches, and upper upright branches. Its bark is grayish-brown and relatively smooth, becoming shallowly furrowed with age. It produces small, rounded acorns enclosed in a thin, saucer-like cap.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomlands, floodplains, along streams, and poorly drained upland soils. Prefers acidic soils and full sun.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from New England west to Ontario and Kansas, and south to Arkansas and North Carolina. Widely planted as an urban street and shade tree.