Indian chestnut, Indian castanopsis
Castanopsis indica
Family: Fagaceae
What it is like
A large evergreen tree. It grows 25-30 m high. The trunk is 40-100 cm across. Trees form branches low down. The bark is grey-brown and cracked. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The leaves are alternate and 7-18 cm long by 3.5-8 cm wide. They are oblong or sword shaped and with teeth along the edge. The base is heart shaped or rounded. The leaf tapers to the tip and can have a sharp tip. Leaves are thickly papery. Underneath there are soft hairs. The flowers do not have stalks and are yellow. They are covered with soft brown hairs. The flowering stalk can be 40 cm long. The cup is round and 3.5-4 cm across. The fruit is a nut. It is enclosed in a covering with thick spines. The nut is cone shaped and 1-1.4 cm across. It is densely hairy.
There are about 120 Castanopsis species. Many have edible nuts.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in northern provinces in Vietnam. It occurs in primary and secondary forest. It occurs below 700-800 m altitude. It grows in sandy soil. In Nepal it grows between 1000-2500 m altitude. It grows in broad leafed evergreen forest below 1500 m in southern China. In XTBG Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The fruit or nut is eaten after cooking. It is roasted. The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable.
The nuts are sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Nuts, seeds, leaves
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed.
In India plants flower and fruit February to December.
Its other names
Local names
An do, Aulay katus, Bank katus, Berkap, Ca oi an do, Che si a bo, Chhakku-khokrak, De gai, Dhalne katus, Dhalnae katoos, Dhalney katus, Dieng-sarag, Ginsa, Gon, Hinguri, Isera, Jheru, Kasi, Katoos, Katus, Katwas, Khe-shing, Kinsa, Ko ket, Ko lakai, Ko luay, Ko nam njao, Ko som, Ko tang, Kozujang, Matsawi, Phongrong, Se-hawr, Serang, Sirang, Thezhusi, Thingsa chi, Thit-e, Thit-e-gyin, Yin du zhui, Zi li
Synonyms
Castanea indica Roxb.; Castanopsis indica (Roxb.) Miq.; Castanopsis macrostachya Hu; Castanopsis sinensis A.Chev.; Castanopsis subacuminata Hayata; Quercus acutissima var. roxburghii (Endl.) Schottky; Quercus acutissima subsp. roxburghii (Endl.) A. Camus; Quercus dubia Lindl. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Quercus indica (Roxb.ex Lind.) Drake; Quercus prinodes Voigt; Quercus roxburghii Endl.; Quercus serrata Thunb.;