Tanbark Oak, Cascalote, Xoppow
Notholithocarpus densiflorus

Family: Fagaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 30 m tall and can reach 45 m tall. The bark is thick and furrowed. It is red-brown but young shoots are woolly white. The leaves are stiff and leathery. They have teeth along the edges and prominent veins. The leaves are rusty hairy underneath. The male flowers are small and in slender upright spikes. The fruit are egg shaped nuts in shallow cups. The scales are spreading or bent backwards.

There are about 300 Lithocarpus species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 7-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Europe, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The nuts or acorns are leached in hot water to remove the tannins then dried and ground for baking. They are used to make bread or porridge.

Edible parts

Seeds, nuts, acorns

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Lithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Rehder; Quercus densiflora Hook. & Arn.; and others