Willow Oak, Peach Oak, Pin Oak
Quercus phellos · Fagaceae (Beech and Oak family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Shape
Lanceolate to linear, tapering at both ends, with no lobes
Margin
Entire (smooth) and untoothed
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Pinnate with a prominent yellowish midrib and fine net-like secondary veins
Key Features
Uniquely narrow, unlobed, lanceolate leaves with smooth margins resembling a willow rather than a typical oak, coupled with tiny hemispherical acorns
Description
Quercus phellos, commonly known as the willow oak, is a medium to large deciduous tree known for its unusually narrow, willow-like leaves which lack the lobes characteristic of most other oaks. It develops a dense, rounded crown, dark gray scaly bark, and produces small acorns that are heavily favored by wildlife.
Habitat
Lowland floodplains, stream banks, moist woods, and poorly drained soils, though highly adaptable to urban environments and drier upland soils
Native Range
Native to the coastal plain and lower piedmont of the eastern and south-central United States, from New York south to northern Florida, and west to Texas
Notes
In Sumter South Carolina