Pin Oak

Fagaceae

LIFE FORM: Tree

NATIVITY: Eastern North America

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

60 to 80 feet tall with strong central leader and horizontal branches; dark green, alternate leaves are deeply lobed; dead lower branches often persit to form a pendulous "skirt".

FLOWERS:

Delicate racemes of light yellow flowers in mid-spring.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Small acorns mature in fall; hoarded by squirrels; resprouts readily following injury.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

A bottomland native oak that is quite drought tolerant. Prefers minimally maintained public parks and open space; woodlands that develop on abandoned open space; freshwater wetlands, ponds and streams.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Heat reduction in paved areas; salt tolerance along roadways; drought tolerance on compacted soild; air pollution tolerance; food and/or habitat for wildlife; erosion control on slopes.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

An important urban street tree; transplants easily from nursery; brown leaves often persist on young trees through the winter; the foliage is rich in tannins. Introduced as an ornamental species.