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 and bristle-tipped margins
Margin
Lobed with distinct, bristle-tipped teeth at the ends of the lobes
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and lateral veins extending into each lobe
Key Features
Deeply lobed leaves with bristle tips, U-shaped sinuses between lobes, lower branches that droop downward toward the ground, and smooth gray bark that remains relatively unridged even on older trees.
Description
The Pin Oak is a medium-sized deciduous tree recognized by its distinctive lower branches that droop downward, middle branches that grow horizontally, and upper branches that point upward. It produces small acorns and features deeply cut, elegant leaves that turn a striking bronze-red in the fall.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomlands, floodplains, and poorly drained upland soils, often near rivers and streams in 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. Extensively planted as an urban street tree.