Quercus myrsinifolia

Blume

Shira kashi, Japanese white oak

Fagaceae Edible: Seeds, Nut Potential hazards — see below 838 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Quercus myrsinifolia is an Asian species of tree in the beech family Fagaceae. It has several common names, including bamboo-leaf oak, Chinese evergreen oak, and Chinese ring-cupped oak. Its Chinese name is 小叶青冈; pinyin: xiǎo yè qīng gāng, which means little leaf ring-cupped oak (literally translated as little leaf green ridge tree), in Japan it is called white oak (白樫, shirakashi; not to be confused with Quercus alba) and in Korea it is known as gasinamu (가시나무). It is native to east central and southeast China, Japan, Korea, Laos, northern Thailand, and Vietnam. It is placed in subgenus Cerris, section Cyclobalanopsis.

Description

An evergreen tree. It grows 20 m high. It is a broadly spreading oak tree. The bark is dark grey and smooth. The leaves are sword shaped and 10 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are leathery and taper to a point. They have a few small teeth. They are deep bronze red when young and become dark green above and blue-green underneath. They are smooth on both sides. The male and female flowers are borne separately on the same plant. The male flowers are easier to see and are in yellow-green drooping catkins. The fruit is an acorn about 2 cm long. One third is enclosed in a cup. The cup has distinct rings around it.

Edible Uses

The seeds and nuts are edible.

Known Hazards

None documented in provided data.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It is native to China and Japan. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Canada, China, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, North America, SE Asia, Tasmania,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by seed. Stem cuttings are possible.

Notes

There are about 600 Quercus species.

References (4)

Coombes, A.J., 2000, Trees. Dorling Kindersley Handbooks. p 166
Lee, Y. M., 2014, Important Plants of East Asia II: Endemic Plant Stories. East Asia Biodiversity Conservation Network p 158
Levy-Yamamori, R., & Taaffe, G., 2004, Garden Plants of Japan. Timber Press. p 205
Mus bot. 1:305. 1851