Bristle-tipped oak, Sawthorn oak
Quercus acutissima

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The leaf stalk is 1-3 cm long. The leaf blade is narrowly sword shape. It is 8-19 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. It is the same colour on both sides. The base is rounded and there are teeth along the edge. It tapers towards the tip. There are 13-18 secondary veins on each side of the main vein. The fruit are on the previous year's growth. There are 1-2 and they are 1.9-4.2 cm across the cup including the bract. The cup encloses up to half the nut. The nut is 1.5-2 cm long by 1.7-2.2 cm wide.

There are about 600 Quercus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native in regions from the Himalayas to Japan. In China it grows in deciduous forest between 100-2200 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 5-10. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Temperate. Hobart Botanical Gardens. Kyneton Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Tasmania, Thailand, Vietnam, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds have been processed into flour during times of food shortage. They are processed into a brown gelatin-like food called acorn milk which is seasoned with chilis, onions and soy sauce and eaten. The seeds have been used as a coffee substitute.

It is available in markets in Korea.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Japanese chestnut oak, Japanese oak, Kunugi, Sangsurinamu, Sawtooth oak

Synonyms

Quercus acutissima var. depressinucata H.W.Jen & R.Q.Gao; Quercus acutissima var. septentrionalis Liou; Quercus lunglingensis Hu; Quercus serrata Hook.f., non Thunb.; See Lithocarpus;