Everything about Lithocarpus totally explained
Lithocarpus is a genus in the
beech family
Fagaceae, differing from
Quercus in the erect male spikes. The Kew Checklist (see link below) accepts 334 species, though some other texts suggest as low as 100 species. All but one are native to east and southeast
Asia; the single exception,
L. densiflorus, Tanoak, being native to western
North America in southwest
Oregon and
California. The Asian species don't have a well-known English vernacular name, though the generic term
stone oak has been proposed.
Although normally included in
Lithocarpus, recent genetic evidence (
Int. J. Plant Sci. 162(6): 1361–1379. 2001; pdf file
) suggests that the North American species is only distantly related to Asian species; it may be better transferred to a genus of its own.
They are
evergreen trees with leathery, alternate
leaves, which may be either entire or toothed. The
seed is a
nut very similar to an
oak acorn, but with a very hard, woody nut shell (hence the genus name, from Greek
lithos, stone, +
carpos, seed). The nut kernel is edible in some species (for example
Lithocarpus edulis), but inedible, and very bitter, in others (for example
L. densiflorus).
Several of the species are very attractive ornamental trees, used in
parks and large
gardens in warm temperate and subtropical areas.
Selected species
Further Information
Get more info on 'Lithocarpus'.
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