Lithocarpus
Encyclopedia
Lithocarpus is a genus in the beech
family Fagaceae
, differing from Quercus
in the erect male spikes. The World Checklist (see link below) accepts 334 species, though some other texts suggest as few as 100 species. About 100 Asian species of the genus were formerly treated in the genus Pasania. 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 do not have a well-known English vernacular name, though the generic term stone oak has been proposed.
Although normally included in Lithocarpus, recent genetic evidence 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
tree
s 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 (e.g. Lithocarpus edulis), but inedible, and very bitter, in others (e.g. L. densiflorus).
Several of the species are very attractive ornamental trees, used in park
s and large garden
s in warm temperate and subtropical areas.
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
family Fagaceae
Fagaceae
The family Fagaceae, or beech family, comprises about 900 species of both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, which are characterized by alternate simple leaves with pinnate venation, unisexual flowers in the form of catkins, and fruit in the form of cup-like nuts. Fagaceous leaves are often...
, differing from Quercus
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
in the erect male spikes. The World Checklist (see link below) accepts 334 species, though some other texts suggest as few as 100 species. About 100 Asian species of the genus were formerly treated in the genus Pasania. All but one are native to east and southeast Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
; the single exception, L. densiflorus, Tanoak, being native to western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in southwest Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The Asian species do not have a well-known English vernacular name, though the generic term stone oak has been proposed.
Although normally included in Lithocarpus, recent genetic evidence 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
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s with leathery, alternate leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, which may be either entire or toothed. The seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
is a nut
Nut (fruit)
A nut is a hard-shelled fruit of some plants having an indehiscent seed. While a wide variety of dried seeds and fruits are called nuts in English, only a certain number of them are considered by biologists to be true nuts...
very similar to an oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
acorn
Acorn
The acorn, or oak nut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives . It usually contains a single seed , enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns vary from 1–6 cm long and 0.8–4 cm broad...
, 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 (e.g. Lithocarpus edulis), but inedible, and very bitter, in others (e.g. L. densiflorus).
Several of the species are very attractive ornamental trees, used in park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s and large garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s in warm temperate and subtropical areas.
Selected species
- Lithocarpus burkilliiLithocarpus burkilliiLithocarpus burkillii is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus cleistocarpusLithocarpus cleistocarpusLithocarpus cleistocarpus is a species of Stone-oak native to China. The flowers are white, and the nuts are flat, contained in a capsule. The tree is grown as an ornamental plant.-External links:* * ...
- Lithocarpus crassinerviusLithocarpus crassinerviusLithocarpus crassinervius is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.It is an Endangered species threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus curtisiiLithocarpus curtisiiLithocarpus curtisii is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus densiflorus - Tanoak
- Lithocarpus dodonaeifolius
- Lithocarpus edulisLithocarpus edulisLithocarpus edulis is a species of stone-oak native to Japan. It is an evergreen tree growing up to 15 metres tall. The nuts are edible for people but taste bitter. The nuts contain tannins, however soaking them in water removes them. It is cultivated as an ornamental plant.-External links:* * ...
- Japanese Stone Oak - Lithocarpus erythrocarpusLithocarpus erythrocarpusLithocarpus erythrocarpus is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus formosanus
- Lithocarpus glaberLithocarpus glaberLithocarpus glaber, the Japanese oak, is a tree species in the genus Lithocarpus found in Japan, China and Taïwan.Mitami Shrine, a Shinto shrine in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, is famous locally for its comparatively large population of Lithocarpus glaber, known as Shiribukagashi . In China, it...
- Lithocarpus hancei - Hance's Tanbark
- Lithocarpus hendersonianusLithocarpus hendersonianusLithocarpus hendersonianus is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus henryi - Henry's Stone Oak
- Lithocarpus indutusLithocarpus indutusLithocarpus indutus is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. Some common names it goes by are bataruwa, pasang bodas, and pasang balung.It is endemic to Indonesia. It is an Vulnerable species threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
- Lithocarpus kingianusLithocarpus kingianusLithocarpus kingianus is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus kingiiLithocarpus kingiiLithocarpus kingii is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus kostermansiiLithocarpus kostermansiiLithocarpus kostermansii is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.It is an Endangered species threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus kunstleriLithocarpus kunstleriLithocarpus kunstleri is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus maingayiLithocarpus maingayiLithocarpus maingayi is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus neorobinsoniiLithocarpus neorobinsoniiLithocarpus neorobinsonii is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Malaysia.-Source:* Chua, L.S.L. 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus ovalisLithocarpus ovalisLithocarpus ovalis is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to the Philippines.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
- Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
- Lithocarpus platycarpusLithocarpus platycarpusLithocarpus platycarpus is a species of plant in the Fagaceae family. It is endemic to Indonesia.It is an Endangered species threatened by habitat loss..-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 22 August 2007....
External links
- A full list of the species and their synonyms can be seen by entering Lithocarpus in the search box in the World Checklist
- Flora of China Online includes descriptions of the 123 ChineseChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
species