140 



PIN OAK. 



Quercus palustris, Muench. 



FORM A medium-sized tree usually attaining a height of 50-60 ft. with a diameter of 2 ft., 

 but may reach a maximum height of 120 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. Trunk straight, usually 

 clean, continuous, and bears a symmetrical conic crown. The lower lateral branches are 

 short and drooping, the middle horizontal, and the upper ascending. The form of the tree 

 is characteristic. See Figs 38 and 89. 



BARK On old trunks relatively smooth but slightly roughened by shallow fissures separating 

 low ridges which are covered by small close scales. On young trunks shining, very smooth, light 

 brown to reddish. See Fig. 76. 



TWIGS Slender, tough, lustrous, at first hairy, later smooth, dark red to grayish-brown, 

 covered with pale and inconspicuous lenticels. 



BUDS Alternate, smooth, J of an inch long, small, ovoid, sharp-pointed, covered with 

 light brown scales which may sometimes be slightly hairy on the margin. 



LEAVES Alternate, simple, 4-6 inches long, 2-4 inches wide, ovate in outline, 6-9-lobed; 

 lobes bristle-pointed, separated by broad deep and round-based sinuses. When full grown 

 dark shining green above, pale green and smooth below, often with small tufts of hairs 

 in the leaf axis. 



LEAF-SCARS See "Leaf -Scars" under White Oak, page 132. 



FLOWERS Appear about May when leaves are about J developed. Staminate flowers 

 in slender and hairy aments from 2-3 inches long. Pistillate short-stalked and terminated 

 by spreading bright red styles. 



FRUIT An acorn, maturing at the end of the second season, solitary or in pairs. Nut 

 globose, light brown, often striped, about J of an inch long. Cup thin, saucer-shaped, shallow, 

 i of an inch across, encloses only about 2/5 of nut, covered with thin closely overlapping 

 scales. Kernel bitter and pale yellow. 



WOOD Ring-porous; with conspicuous medullary rays; heavy, strong, hard, close-grained, 

 checks and warps badly during seasoning. Weighs 43.24 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used for 

 cheap construction, cheap cooperage, railroad ties, and occasionally for interior finish. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Pin Oak, also known as the Swamp Oak and 

 Water Oak, when young and especially when open grown, can readily be recognized by its 

 characteristic form. Its trunk is continuous, relatively smooth, and covered by many slender 

 and rather short lateral branches which are drooping below, erect above, and horizontal 

 in the middle. It frequents moist locations and bears small acorns with shallow cups. The 

 branchlets are often beset with short, stiff lateral shoots which give it its common name. 

 The buds are small, smooth, sharp-pointed, and light brown in color. 



RANGE From Massachusetts to Michigan and Missouri, south to Virginia, Tennessee, and 

 Oklahoma. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Common in the eastern and southern parts. Occa- 

 sional in the mountainous parts. Sparse in the western part. 



HABITAT It occurs in rich moist soil of river bottomlands, along streams, on border of 

 swamps, and even thrives in fertile soil on the slopes and summits of the Allegheny mountains. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This species does not rank high from a commercial 

 point of view even among the Black Oak group of which it is a member. It is singularly 

 beaHitiful for ornamental purposes. It deserves to be planted extensively as a shade, park, 

 or avenue tree on account of its rapid growth, its beautiful form, and autumnal foliage, and the 

 ease with which it is transplanted. Its commercial value, however, does not recommend it for 

 extensive planting for forestry purposes. 



