Pin Oak PIN OAK Quercus palustris, Muench. 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.