Kharshu oak
Quercus semecarpifolia

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows about 20 m high. It keeps its leaves during the year. The young parts have a brown covering and hairs. The leaves have stalks. They are 2-6 mm long. Leaves are alternate. The leaves are oblong and densely hairy underneath when young. The leaf blade is 5-12 cm long by 3-6.5 cm wide. The male flower spikes are long and slender. They are densely hairy and droop. They are yellowish. The female fruit is an acorn. They occur singly or in pairs. The nut can be purple brown. It is 2-3 cm across.

There are about 600 Quercus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In Nepal they grow from 700-3800 m altitude. They occur on hillsides. In China they grow in mountain forests between 2600-4000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Bhutan, China, Europe, France, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, SE Asia, Tibet

How it is used for food

The sap of the plant is drunk as tea. The seeds can be dried and ground to a powder and used to thicken stews or mixed with cereals for bread. The seeds need to be leached in running water to remove bitterness.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts - flour

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Ban, Bani, Gao shan li, Kethcheng, Khalanza, Kharsu, Khasru, Terry

Synonyms

Quercus aquifoloides Rehder & Wilson; Quercus cassura Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don; Quercus obtusiloba D. Don;