Hill chestnut
Castanopsis tribuloides

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows to about 20 m tall. The bark is cracked. The leaves are 4.5-19 cm long by 1.5-7 cm wide. They are sword shaped. The flowers do not have stalks. The fruit is a nut enclosed in a spiny top shaped covering.

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

Where it is found

A tropical and subtropical plant. In Nepal plants grow between 100-1500 m altitude. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,200-2,000 m above sea level. In Sikkim is grows between 450-2,300 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten raw or roasted. They are also used for making alcohol.

Fruit sold in market.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts, leaves - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed.

In the Himalayas it flowers July to November and fruits August to October. In Sikkim February to April.

Its other names

Local names

Bara hingari, Bara hingra, Bara hinguri, Chisi, Dhalekatush, Dieng-soh-ot, Ginsa kinsa, Ginsa-matsawi, Katauj, Katonj, Katus, Ko keut, Kotur, Kyanza, Musrey katus, Musuray katus, Musure katus, Phul-singori, Sa ut, Sili batna, Tain tha, Thazarshi, Tumari, U-thangji

Synonyms

Balanoplis tribuloides Raf.; Castanea tribuloides Lindl. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Castanea tribuloides (Smith) Lindley; Quercus acuta Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Quercus armata D.Don; Quercus caudata Lindl. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Quercus loureiroi Hance; Quercus tribuloides Smith;