Pin Oak
Quercus palustris · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Lobed (deeply pinnately lobed with 5 to 7 lobes and bristled tips)
Margin
Lobed with bristled tips on the lobe ends
Arrangement
Alternate arrangement along the twig
Venation
Pinnate venation with a prominent central midrib and branching secondary veins
Key Features
Deeply lobed leaves with U-shaped sinuses reaching almost to the midrib, bristled tips, lower branches that persist on the trunk pointing downwards, and small acorns with saucer-like caps.
Description
A striking deciduous tree growing up to 70 feet tall, characterized by a pyramidal crown in youth, horizontal or descending lower branches, and deeply cut leaves that turn a rich bronze or red in autumn.
Habitat
Typically found in moist to wet bottomland soils, floodplains, and poorly drained upland depressions; prefers acidic soils and full sun.
Native Range
Native to eastern and central North America, from New England west to Ontario and Kansas, and south to Arkansas and North Carolina.