PIN OAK - Quercus palustris, Muench.
PIN OAK, OCCASIONALLY called Spanish or water oak, grows throughout the state but is rather rae in the Ozark Region. It is a wet-land tree growing in the bottomlands in most areas but also on poorly drained prairie soils, in fence rows and along draws in the prairie regions of the state.
The branching habit of this tree is one key feature to its identity. Limbs tend to persist on the straight central trunks. Lower, usually dead, limbs droop, middle limbs are horizontal, and the top limbs slant upward. This branching habit is also characteristic of the shingle and willow oaks. In silhouette, immature pin oaks have conical shapes. The numerous limbs make small pin knots in the lumber.
Pin oaks acorns have vertical stripes with light brown alternating with greenish browns on the fresh acorns. Acorns are nearly hemispherical in shape and are enclosed at the base in a shallow cup. Since it grows near water, often in pure stands, pin oak acorns are important duck foods. Squirrels, deer and even quail and blue jays relish these nutritious acorns. Biologists recommend pin oak planting in duck management areas.
Leaves of this tree are more deeply lobed and more sharply pointed than any other oak. They are four to six inches long and two to four inches wide. In the autumn the leaves turn a deep scarlet.
Because of its excellent form, hardiness and autumn coloration, it has become increasingly important as an ornamental tree. It is the fastest growing oak and will survive on a variety of soils. It also makes a good windbreak tree.
The bark is smooth and shiny in youth, becoming roughened on the older portions of the trunk.
Pin oak is not a commercially valuable tree although the straight trunks do make good poles and pilings in limited quantities. Only limited use is made of pin oak lumber because the many small branches on the tree cause lumber to be knotty. Some use is made of the lumber for pallets and construction.
