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Pin Oak.JPG

Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

 

Interesting & key characteristics: 

Height: up to 70 feet tall

Shape: Taller than average trees; leaves grow in a pyramid and conical shape upwards; lower branches angle downwards 

Leaves: Has dark green, glossy leaves; fall off in the end of winter in clusters, but come back quickly; 4 to 6 inches long; 5 to 7 lobes

Bark: Stays smooth for many years, gray-ish brown

  

Unique benefits (how it helps our planet):

 

The pin oak tree helps animals find a nice resting place and it also drops acorns to provide food. The leaves of the pin oak don't fall in autumn right away, and they provide great shade during summer. Additionally, they have very deep and strong roots, so they stop erosion.  

 

Source: Fifty Common Trees of Missouri, Missouri Department of Conservation

 

The Story Behind the Tree:

When Forsyth School purchased its sixth house on our campus, Next House, there was a pin oak tree in the backyard. The tree was a few years old and the school decided to keep it. There were pros and cons to that situation, but now the tree provides a wonderful shade. The con is that there are power lines right above the tree, and pin oaks grow at a rate of 24” a year. Sadly, it isn’t possible to move this tree since it has a deep root system. The school is hoping that they can keep trimming the tree so it won’t collide with the power lines. The school does plan to keep the tree as long as they can, since the tree is a school favorite - especially of our facility director, Michael Mitchell, who can see the distinctive shape of this tree from his office.

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