Mongolian Oak
Quercus mongolica

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m tall. It spreads 12 m wide. It loses its leaves during the year. The small branches are purple-brown and angular. The leaf stalk is 2-8 mm long. The leaf blade is narrow and oval. It is 7-19 cm long by 3-11 cm wide. Leaves are hairy along the veins. The base is narrowly rounded or ear shaped. The edges of the leaf have rough teeth or are wavy. There are 10-18 side veins on each side of the main vein. The cup half encloses the nut. The nut is narrow and oval. It is 2-2.4 cm long by 1.3-1.8 cm wide.

There are about 600 Quercus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows in mixed forest between 200-2500 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. Arboretum Tasmania. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The seeds have been processed into flour during times of food shortage. The leaves are used for tea.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts, leaves - drink

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Carasu, Charasu, Meng gu li, Xiang zi

Synonyms

Quercus crispula Blume; Quercus crispula var. manschurica Koidzumi; Quercus grosseserrata Blume; Quercus kirinensis Nakai; Quercus liaotungensis Koidzumi; Quercus mongolica subsp. crispula (Blume)Menitsky; Quercus mongolica var. grosseserrata (Blume)Rehder & E.H.Wilson; Quercus mongolica var. kirinensis (Nakai)Kitagawa; Quercus mongolica var. liaotungensis (Koidzumi) Nakai; Quercus mongolica var. manshurica (Koidzumi)Nakau; Quercus sessiliflora Salisbury var. mongolica (Fischer ex Ledeb.)Franchet; Quercus wutaishanica Mayr.;