Quercus palustris

Quercus palustris, also called pin oak, swamp oak, or swamp Spanish oak, is a tree in the red oak section (Quercus sect. Lobatae) of the genus Quercus. Pin oak is one of the most commonly used landscaping oaks in its native range due to its ease of transplant, relatively fast growth, and pollution tolerance.

Description

A small tree. It grows 18-25 m tall and spreads 12-15 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The lower branches droop downwards. The leaf stalk is 2.5-5 cm long. The leaves are oval and 10-20 cm long by 7-10 cm wide. The leaves are glossy and deeply divided. There are 5-7 lobes. The leaves are mid-green and turn red-brown in autumn. The female flowering stalks are about 1 cm long. There can be 1, 2 or 3 cups. They enclose about 1/3 of the nut. The nut is brownish and narrow and oval. It is 2-2.5 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. The cup is saucer like.

Edible Uses

The seed, about 15mm long, must be cooked before eating. It can be dried and ground into a powder to thicken stews or blended with cereals for bread-making. The seed contains bitter tannins that need to be removed by thoroughly washing in running water, though this also leaches out minerals. Either whole seeds or ground powder can be leached — whole seeds may take several days or weeks in running water, and wrapping them in a cloth bag placed in a stream was a traditional method. Ground powder leaches more quickly. A simple taste test confirms when enough tannin has been removed. Traditionally, seeds were buried in boggy ground over winter and dug up in spring, by which point most of their astringency had diminished. The roasted seed also makes a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The nut or acorn is bitter with tannin. It is occasionally eaten after leaching. The wood is used for smoke flavouring during barbecue cooking.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

An infusion of the inner bark has been used to treat intestinal pains. Galls that form on the tree are strongly astringent and have been used medicinally to address haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to S.E. Canada and E. United States. They are frost hardy. It normally grows on poorly drained soils, in swamps and along streams. It is intolerant of shade. It does not suit chalky soils. It suits hardiness zones 3-10. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania. National Arboretum Canberra.

Where It Grows

Africa, Australia, Britain, China, Canada, East Africa, Europe, North America, Southern Africa, Tasmania, USA*, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side. Lime tolerant. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade. Withstands atmospheric pollution. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted. A fairly fast growing tree, it is occasionally cultivated for timber in eastern central Europe. It coppices fairly well. The tree seldom lives longer than 150 - 200 years in the wild, commencing to bear seeds when 15 - 25 years old. Seed production is cyclic, a year of high yields being followed by 2 - 3 years of low yields. The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed taking two summers to ripen. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young. This species has a relatively shallow tap-root, making it easier to transplant. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus.

Propagation

Seed loses viability quickly if allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool over winter, but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed with protection from mice and squirrels. Small quantities can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Average germination rate is about 68%. Because plants develop a deep taproot early, they should be moved to permanent positions as soon as possible — seeds sown in situ produce the best trees. Trees left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons transplant very badly.

Other Uses

A mulch of decomposed leaves placed around plants repels slugs and grubs; fresh leaves should not be used as they can inhibit plant growth. Oak galls, caused by insect larvae living and feeding within the growths, are a rich source of tannin once the insects have pupated and left. The tannin can also be used as a dyestuff, and a black ink is made from the galls. The wood is strong, hard, coarse-grained, heavy, and often knotty due to the persistence of many small limbs, weighing 43lb per cubic foot. It sees occasional use for shingles, clapboards, furniture, and wooden nails, and serves as a fuel.

Production

It is a fast growing tree. The acorns take 2 years to mature.

Notes

There are about 600 Quercus species. It is a cultivated plant in China.

Also Known As

Zhao sheng li

References (15)

• Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 167
• Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1126
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 116
• Farrar, J.L., 1995, Trees of the Northern United States and Canada. Iowa State University press/Ames p 252
• Harris, E & J., 1983, Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of Britain. Reader's Digest. p 154

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