Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Fagales>Fagaceae>Quercus palustris Muenchhausen

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) leaf

Pin Oak is commonly planted in North Carolina, but fairly rare in the wild, where it occurs in the northern half of the Piedmont.

Durham Co., NC 8/15/2010.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) leaf underside

The smooth leaves are distinguised by their deep sinuses. Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea) also has deep sinuses, but grows in uplands. Shumard Oak (Q. shumardii) also grows in swamps, but the sinuses are slightly less deep. Both Shumard and Pin may show tan hairs in the axils of the veins beneath (see left). Also compare with Cherrybark Oak (Quercus pagoda).

Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 6/8/2003.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) leaf

Pin Oak is associated with bottomlands and swamps, as the name palustris indicates.

Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) bark

The bark and form are similar to that of Willow Oak (Quercus phellos), smooth when the tree is young, becoming shallowly ridged, broken by shallow longitudinal fissures.

The bark and form of Shumard are more similar to that of Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra).

Durham Co., NC 5/23/2012.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 8/15/2010.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.

More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology

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