140 



PIN OAK. 



Quercus palustris, Muench. 



FOBM — 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 39. 



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, 5-9-lobed; 

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

 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 flowerf 

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

 by spreading bright red styles. 



FRUIT — An acorn, maturing at the end of the second season, solitary or In pairs. Nu 

 globose, light brown, often striped, about 1 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 overlappini 

 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 lbs. per cubic foot. Used fo 

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



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Pin Oak, also known as the Swamp Oak an 

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

 Oklahoma. M 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Common in the eastern and southern parts. OccH 

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



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

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



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — This species does not rank high from a commercl|| 



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

 beautiful for ornamental purposes. It deserves to be planted extensively as a shade, par 

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

 ease with which it is transplanted. Its commercial value, however, does not recommend It 1 

 extensive planting for forestry purposes. 



