Pin Oak

This species, like all oaks, is monoecious, which means that the trees contain both male and female reproductive organs, and these are located in two different flowers that the trees make. Male flowers hang down in cylindrical clusters called catkins that are green and release pollen into the wind. You might not even notice female flowers, which are unnoticeable and tucked in between branches and leaf bases.

As flowering trees, oaks also produce fruits, specifically acorns. Acorn production begins at around 30 to 40 years of age. Acorns are vital for animals such as squirrels and ducks because they serve as a primary food source. Squirrels play a vital role in the planting of acorns because they will dig a deep hole to hide their acorns. Sometimes they forget about the acorns that they hid, and the acorns will then have the opportunity to become a new tree.

Pin oak trees produce hardwood, which we use for furniture, floorboards, and wine barrels. Wineries use pin oak bark to make their wine barrels because they help cultivate the wine’s taste. The bark was also used in past years by Native Americans to make a drink for treatment of intestinal pain.

Rowan’s facilities team cares about the health of our oak trees and noticed that some of the trees began contracting a disease called bacterial leaf scorch. Transferred by xylem-feeding insects, like leafhoppers, this bacterial disease infects the vessels that carry water and nutrients throughout the tree.

It is commonly seen in species of oak trees; however, it can also affect other native trees, like elm, sycamore, mulberry, sweetgum, sugar maple, and red maple. Some of the trees on campus are showing negative effects from this disease.

I encourage you to keep exploring the trees on Rowan’s campus. There are several species of oaks, as well as different species of native and ornamental trees that you can learn about. We are excited to share our love for these essential members of our community with you!

These resources are a product of Dr. Sara Wright’s Plant Diversity course in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Department. My name is Brendalis Lisboa, and I will earn my Biological Science degree in 2022. I plan to pursue a career in health professions. You can read more about me and the Pin Oak Tree below.