Castanopsis cerebrina
(Hickel & A.Camus) Barnett
Fagaceae
Lithocarpus cerebrinus (Hickel & A.Camus) A.Camus.
Pasania cerebrina Hickel & A.Camus
Quercus resinifera A.Chev.
Common Name:
General Information
Castanopsis cerebrina is an evergreen tree growing up to 25 metres tall. The straight bole can be up to 90cm in diameter[
598- Title
- Trees of Laos and Vietnam - A Field Guide to 100 species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hoang Van Sam; Khamseng Nanthavong; Kessler P.J.A.
- Publisher
- Blumea
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - southern China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand.
Habitat
On low hills or on the forest edge, at elevations up to 400 metres[
598- Title
- Trees of Laos and Vietnam - A Field Guide to 100 species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hoang Van Sam; Khamseng Nanthavong; Kessler P.J.A.
- Publisher
- Blumea
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne
]. Broad-leaved evergreen forests at elevations from 200 - 700 metres in southern China[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position[
598- Title
- Trees of Laos and Vietnam - A Field Guide to 100 species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hoang Van Sam; Khamseng Nanthavong; Kessler P.J.A.
- Publisher
- Blumea
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne
], though seedlings are likely to grow better in some shade[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. Castanopsis species are generally tolerant of a range of soils, preferably well-drained[
451- Title
- Flora Malesiana Series 1
- Publication
-
- Author
- Various
- Website
- http://www.archive.org
- Publisher
- Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet
].
Natural regeneration is usually good[
598- Title
- Trees of Laos and Vietnam - A Field Guide to 100 species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hoang Van Sam; Khamseng Nanthavong; Kessler P.J.A.
- Publisher
- Blumea
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne
].
Edible Uses
The narrowly conical seed is 20 - 25mm long and 14 - 22mm wide[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Although we have no specific information for this species, the seeds of all the species of Castanopsis are more or less edible and most if not all of them will have been used for food in times of shortage, when better foods were not available.
The seed is usually cooked before eating, though it can also be eaten raw. It can be eaten whole, though it is more commonly dried, then ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread.
The main disadvantage of the seed is that it is often rich in tannins, making it bitter and astringent. These tannins can be largely removed by soaking the seeds in water then throwing the water away. The process should be repeated until the seed no longer tastes bitter.
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The bark is a source of tannins and can be used as a dye, to weatherproof fibres etc[
899- Title
- Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-27-5
- Description
- A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
The branches and stems of many Castanopsis species are used as bed logs in mushroom cultivation[
899- Title
- Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-27-5
- Description
- A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
The wood is hard. It is used in construction and for making agricultural tools[
598- Title
- Trees of Laos and Vietnam - A Field Guide to 100 species.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hoang Van Sam; Khamseng Nanthavong; Kessler P.J.A.
- Publisher
- Blumea
- Year
- 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A detailed guide, with excellent line-drawings, to 100 of the more important trees of Laos and Vietnam. A very good work, giving lots of information about each plant. Originally published in the journal Blumea, it is available as a PDF on the Interne
].
The wood is a good fuel and can be used to make charcoal[
899- Title
- Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak Vols 1 - 6
- Publication
-
- Author
- Soepadmo E.; Saw L.G.; Chung R.C.K. (Editors)
- Publisher
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
- 983-2181-27-5
- Description
- A flora of the woody plants of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo, often giving details of plant uses.
].
Propagation
Seed - easy to germinate if sown fresh. Self-sown seedlings can be transplanted[
658- Title
- Food Plants of Papua New Guinea
- Publication
-
- Author
- French. B.R.
- Publisher
- Author.
- Year
- 2006
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Published on-line in PDF format, this book contains information on several hundred New Guinea food plants.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
