Central China castanopsis, Silk chestnut tree
Castanopsis fargesii

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 30 m high. The trunk is up to 1 m across. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 10-13 cm long by 3 cm wide. There can be small teeth near the tip. The leaves are rusty underneath. Male and female flowers are separate. Male flowers are in 3 spikes 5-8 mm long. The female flowers are in single spikes 9-15 cm long. The nut is held in a cup. The nut is oval or round and 1 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The nuts are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Castanopsis argyracantha A. Camus; Castanopsis cryptoneuron (H. Lev.) Rehder; Castanopsis taiwaniana Hayata; Pasania ischostachya Hu; Quercus pinfaensis H. Lev.;