Pin Oak Quercus palustris
Characteristics
Leaves: Simple, alternate, shiny, dark green & smooth top surface, turning red in the fall, underside is lighter in color and has hairs present along the veins, 7 inches in length and 4 inches in width, deeply lobed (over halfway to middle vein), 5 to 7 bristle-tipped lobes.
Flower: Staminate (Male) and pistillate (Female) are both present on trees, males are skinny and droopy forming catkins, females are in bunches of 1-3.
Fruit: Sometimes single or in clusters of 1 - 4 acorns, acorns are light brown often have dark lines, normally about a half inch in width; a thin, brownish-red, minutely hairy cup covers about 1/4 of the acorn; stalks may or may not be present,
Twig: Skinny, smooth, brownish-red to dark gray; pith has star shape when cut in a cross-section; alternate, slightly raised leaf scars that are clustered at the end of the stem, numerous bundle traces are present.
Bud: Pointy, shades of brown to red, grow to about 1/8 of an inch in length and have a smooth surface.
Bark: Different shades of brown and slightly grooved.
Form: Commonly grows to about 75 feet tall with the trunk about 3 feet in width, narrow and oval shaped crown, lower branches sag and break off leaving stubs growing from the trunk.
Habitat: Damp soil, along creeks and commonly by water.
Range: From Virginia to Oklahoma and Massachusetts to southern Iowa.
Wood Description & Use: Dense, heavy wood with a rough grain; used for building material, fuel, fence posts, and planted in yards,
Distinguishing Features: little acorns and sagging lower branches.
Location: Mattoon, Illinois
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Sources: Mohlenbrock, Robert. (N.D.). Forest Trees of Illinois. Springfield, IL: Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
© 2003 Cumberland High School. Lauren H
Contact Information- lstarwalt@cumberland.k12.il.us