Tree species
Pin Oak / Quercus Plaustris
a species of red oak
pin oak (aka swamp oak, water oak, etc) is a variation of red oaks. It has glossy, dark green leaves and during the fall it's leaves turn vibrant scarlet and bronze colors, making it a common addition to yards and parks. it is also particularly easy to transplant, as it naturally has shorter roots.
the pin oak has unique branches, the lower branches distinctly point downwards, the middle points horizontally, and the top points upwards. this produces a nice pyramid shaped tree, which provides dense shade with its deciduous leaves. Oak leaves are 3–6" long ovate shapes, usually with around 5 lobes, but can go up to 9, with deep dips between lobes. since there are netted leaves, it means this palant is a dicot.
Oak trees are monoecious, producing male flowers, called 'catkins' which produce pollen, and smaller female flowers that house the egg.
Pin oak tree
The male flower produces pollen to be blown about and caught onto early stage acorns which begin to form as bunches of cells on the tips of branches. eventually that bunch of cells will be fertilized and grow into an acorn nut. It can take anywhere from 8 to 13 months for this kind of zygote to reach maturity and be ready to fall off the tree, to spread the single seed it contains.
this tree can tolerate numerous soil conditions, except extremely alkaline soil, which will cause sickness and eventually kill the tree. it has the ability to withstand degrees of flooding and high moisture habitats, which is why it can be regionally known as 'swamp oak' or 'water oak'.
Pin oak leaves
Pin oak catkins
pin oak wood is often used in carpentry as it is a hardwood. its uses can vary through Cabinetry, furniture, interior trim, flooring, and veneer, so its very useful to humans, as well as being a well built nesting tree for birds. its acorns can also be eaten by certain animals (i.e. birds and squirrels)
Pin oak cross section desk
Pin oak charcuterie board
although oak trees are common, and have a number of uses and benefits, the acorns do contain tannins, which make a bitter taste, and cause sickness in certain animals (i.e. humans and dogs) if eaten in large amounts. this substance can also block a body's ability to absorb nutrients.
Mature pin oak acorn
Juvenile pin oak acorn
the specific tree I looked at was 56 years old. Nothing much happened ecologically.
taxonomy classification
Domain: Eukarya Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Fagales Family: Facaceae
Genus: Quercus Species: Quercus Plaustris