Pin Oak
Other common names: Swamp Spanish Oak, Water Oak
Scientific name: Quercus palustris
Conservation status: Least Concern
Features of Pin Oaks: 50-75 feet tall with a diameter of 1-3 feet. Leaves are 3-6 inches and have 7-5 U-shaped sinuses. Grey/brown, shiny bark with fissures and ridges. Small flowers in the spring and small 1/2 inch acorns with cupped tops and smooth rounded bottoms.
Pin Oaks in North America
The Pin Oak produces oxygen through photosynthesis, as well as being able to absorbing pollutants and increasing air quality. Pin Oak acorns are eaten by small animals across Canada including songbirds, wild turkeys, ducks, white-tailed deer, squirrels, and smaller rodents.
Some native tribes are known to use the bark of the Pin Oak to create a drink that treats intestinal pains and colds. It also help to relieve pains, cramps, hemorrhages, chronic diarrhea, and dysentery. Native American tribes also used Pin Oak acorns to make coffee and soup, as the acorns create a thickening agent that is useful for soup and stews.
