Pin Oak

Pin Oak

(Quercus palustris)

Fagaceae (Beech Family)

▲ ▼ young, mature trees

▲ ▼ leaves, with lower photo showing fall color

▲ ▼ young trees with good fall color

▲ trunk and bark

▲ trees survived 2007 ice storm in Springfield, MO with little to moderate damage

Location on Missouri State University campus: large tree at southwest corner of Siceluff Hall; other trees in various locations around campus

Quercus palustris: Pin Oak

• leaves alternate, deciduous, simple, ovate with 5-7 deep, U-shaped lobes and several shallow lobes ending in spines; 3-6" long and almost equally wide; dark green above and lighter green below with axillary tufts of hair in the veins; dried leaves often persist through winter on tree
• stems slender, greenish to brown, more green after a couple of years
• buds less than 1/8 - 1/4" long, broadest at base, tapering to a pointed tip with reddish brown scales
• barks gray-brown, smooth when young, with narrow, shallow ridges and furrows with age
• grows 60-70' tall with upright, pyramidal growth habit-- lower branches thin, descending, mid-height branches horizontal and upper branches ascending
• acorn rounded, often striped about 1/2" diameter enclosed about 1/3-1/4 in thin cap
• prefers full sun, moist, well-drained, high-organic matter, acid soils; tolerates wet soils; may have moderate to severe chlorosis in higher pH soils
• medium to fast growth rate
• native to Missouri (and Springfield)