Spike oak
Lithocarpus elegans
Family: Fagaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen tree. It grows 4-16 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 8-35 cm long by 3-10 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped. They taper to the tip. They are leathery. The base is wedge shaped or rounded. The flowers are 3 mm across. They are yellowish and occur in clusters. The fruit is an acorn. It is 18 mm across and greenish. It has a cup at the base.
There are about 300 Lithocarpus species.
Where it is found
A tropical and subtropical plant. It occurs in dense forest in the plains and low hills. It grows up to 700 m altitude. In Nepal it grows between 1400-2000 m altitude. It grows in forests on hillsides. It grows on sandy soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, SE Asia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The fruit or nuts are edible but not popular. Roasted seeds are eaten. Small amounts of nuts can be eaten with other foods.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds, nuts
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seeds.
Its other names
Local names
Arkaula, Arkhaule, Arkhaulo, Bara chakma, Berungulad, Er ye ke, Kaw nam, Kelempening, Khaohs, Khos, Krang, Mempening bangkas, Mempening landak, Sunda oak, Temi-sakho, Tihaig
Synonyms
Arcaula spicata Raf.; Lithocarpus collettii (King) A. Camus; Lithocarpus elegans var. collettii (King) H. B. Naithani & S. N. Biswas; Lithocarpus finetii (Hickel & A. Camus) A. Camus; Lithocarpus gelinicus C. C. Huang & Y. T. Chang [Illegitimate]; Lithocarpus gracilipes S. H. Huang & al.; Lithocarpus grandifolius (D. Don) S. N. Biswas; Lithocarpus intermedius Barnett; Lithocarpus microcalyx (Korth.) A. Camus; Lithocarpus rhioensis (Hance) A. Camus; Lithocarpus spicatus Rehder & E. H. Wilson; Lithocarpus spicatus var. collettii (King ex Hook. f.) Hand.-Mazz.; Lithocarpus spicatus var. elegans (Blume) A. Camus; Lithocarpus spicatus var. glaberrimus (Blume) A. Camus; Lithocarpus spicatus var. gracilipes (Miq.) A.Camus Lithocarpus spicatus var. placentarius (Blume) A. Camus; Lithocarpus spicatus var. poilaneana A. Camus; Lithocarpus spicatus var. polycarpus A. Camus; Pasania finetii Hickel & A. Camus; Pasania mixta (A. DC.) Oerst.; Pasania placentaria (Blume) Oerst.; Pasania pseudomolucca (Morales ex A. DC.) Oerst.; Pasania spicata Oerst.; Pasania spicata var. brevipetiolata (A. DC.) Hu; Quercus anceps Korth.; Quercus arcaula var. microcalyx (Korth.) Blume; Quercus arcaula var. racemosa Blume; Quercus arcola Buch.-Ham. ex Wall. [Invalid]; Quercus depressa Blume; Quercus elegans Blume; Quercus glaberrima Blume; Quercus gracilipes Miq.; Quercus grandifolia D. Don; Quercus hystrix var. longispica Gamble; Quercus microcalyx Korth.; Quercus mixta A. DC.; Quercus placentaria Blume; Quercus pseudomolucca Morales ex A. DC.; Quercus racemosa Jack [Illegitimate]; Quercus rhioensis Hance; Quercus sphacelata Blume; Quercus spicata Sm. [Illegitimate]; Quercus spicata var. collettii King; Quercus spicata var. collettii King ex Hook. f.; Quercus spicata var. depressa (Blume) King; Quercus spicata var. glaberrima (Blume) A. DC., Quercus spicata var. gracilipes (Miq.) A. DC.; Quercus spicata var. gracilipes Hook. f. [Illegitimate]; Quercus spicata var. latifolia Scheff.; Quercus spicata var. microcalyx (Korth.) Miq.; Quercus spicata var. placentaria (Blume) Miq. Quercus spicata var. racemosa Miq.; Quercus squamata Roxb.; Synaedrys pseudomolucca (Morales ex A. DC.) Koidz.; Synaedrys spicata Koidz.;