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)