Castanopsis hystrix

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A large evergreen tree. It grows 25-30 m tall. The trunk is 1 m across. The young leaves are purple-brown. They bare slender and hairy. The leaf stalk is 1 cm long. The leaves are 2.5-15 cm long by 1.5-5 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped. They are papery to thinly leathery. The base is rounded and unequal. There are fine reddish hairs underneath. There are 9-15 sides veins on each side of the midrib. The flowers are yellow and in drooping spikes. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are 15 cm long. The fruit is a nut 0.8-1.5 cm across. It is in a cup 2.5-4 cm across. This splits into 4 segments.

There are about 120 Castanopsis species. Many have edible nuts.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In Vietnam it grows between 300-1500 m altitude. In Nepal they grow between 1000-2500 m altitude. Seedlings require shade. It grows in subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The seed or nut is eaten raw or roasted.

Nuts are sold in local markets and also exported.

Edible parts

Nuts, seeds, flowers ?

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can be cut back and will re-grow.

Trees grow quickly after 5 years of age. It starts flowering and fruiting after 15 years. There are about 1,200 nuts per kg.

Its other names

Local names

Ca oi la do, Dalne katus, Dhalne katus, Hingori, Hong zhui, Katoos, Katuns, Katus, Ko deng, Kora, Mabashi, Mak ko, Patale katus, Patle katus, Patley katus, Sega, Thadziisii, Thyosolothi, Zhexie

Synonyms

Castanea bodinieri H. Leveille & Vanoit; Castanea brunnea (H. Lev.) A. Camus; Castanopsis bodinieri (H. Leveille & Vaniot) Koidzumi; Castanopsis brunnea (H. Leveille) A. Camus; Castanopsis lohfauensis Hu; Castanopsis rufescens Hk.f. and Thoms; Castanopsis tapuensis Hu; Quercus brunnea H. Leveille;