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Quercus palustris - Münchh

Common Name Pin Oak, Swamp Oak
Family Fagaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Deep rich soils[227, 229] in swampy woods and bottoms at low elevations[43]. Often found in wet, poorly drained claypan soils typical of floodplains, tolerating short periods of spring flooding[229].
Range North-eastern and Central N. America - Massachusetts to Michigan, Virginia and Arkansas.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Quercus palustris Pin Oak, Swamp Oak


Quercus palustris Pin Oak, Swamp Oak
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Summary

Bloom Color: Brown. Form: Pyramidal.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Quercus palustris is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Canopy;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Coffee

Seed - cooked[159]. The seed is about 15mm long[200], it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Dysentery  Stomachic

An infusion of the inner bark has been used to treat intestinal pains[257]. Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc[4].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Ink  Repellent  Tannin  Wood

A mulch of the leaves repels slugs, grubs etc, though fresh leaves should not be used as these can inhibit plant growth[20]. Oak galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects. The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein. When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source of tannin, that can also be used as a dyestuff[4]. A black ink is made from the galls[226]. Wood - strong, hard, coarse grained, heavy, often knotty owing to the persistence of many small limbs[46, 61, 82, 171, 227]. It weighs 43lb per cubic foot[227]. It is occasionally used for shingles, clap-boards, furniture, wooden nails etc and as a fuel[46, 61, 82, 171, 227, 229].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Aggressive surface roots possible, Specimen, Street tree. Prefers a good deep fertile loam which can be on the stiff side[1, 11]. Lime tolerant[188]. Young plants tolerate reasonable levels of side shade[200]. Withstands atmospheric pollution[227]. Tolerates moderate exposure, surviving well but being somewhat stunted[200]. A fairly fast growing tree[200], it is occasionally cultivated for timber in eastern central Europe[50]. It coppices fairly well[227]. The tree seldom lives longer than 150 - 200 years in the wild, commencing to bear seeds when 15 - 25 years old[229]. Seed production is cyclic, a year of high yields being followed by 2 - 3 years of low yields[229]. The tree flowers on new growth produced in spring, the seed taking two summers to ripen[229]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. Intolerant of root disturbance, trees should be planted in their permanent positions whilst young[11]. This species has a relatively shallow tap-root, making it easier to transplant[226]. Hybridizes freely with other members of the genus[200]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Special Features: Attracts birds, North American native, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool overwinter but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in an outdoor seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Average germination rate is about 68%[227]. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[11]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Ontario), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan (south), New Jersey, New York (s.e. & s.w.), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa (southeast), Kansas (east), Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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123

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Münchh

Botanical References

1143200

Links / References

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Readers comment

   Sat Jun 26 15:21:49 2004

Example can be found at Hilliers Arboretum, Nr Romsey, Hampshire, England. UK

Link: Hillier Gardens Arboretum of some 180 acres

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Subject : Quercus palustris  
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