CHRYSOLEPIS

CHINQUAPIN

Evergreen
Leaf leathery; margin entire or slightly wavy above middle; upper surface ± glabrous, green; lower surface golden, with densely spaced, minute, appressed scales; stipules generally deciduous
Staminate inflorescence simple, sometimes branched, stiff, solitary or clustered, ascending to erect
Pistillate inflorescence clustered below staminate inflorescence on same or separate stalk; flowers 1–3
Staminate flower: sepals generally 6, minute; stamens generally 8–10+
Pistillate flower: sepals generally 6, minute
Fruit: nuts 1–3, enclosed by spiny, bur-like involucre, ovoid to subspheric, ± angled, maturing in 2 years
Species in genus: 2 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: golden scale, from lower leaf surface)
Reference: [Hjelmqvist 1960 Bot Not 113:373–380]
Asian Castanopsis has involucre with 7 free valves (5 outer, 2 inner separating 3 nuts).

Native

Q. X acutidens Torr.

Shrub or small tree < 6(10) m, evergreen
Leaf 2–6 cm; petiole 3–7 mm; blade generally oblong to obovate, ± leathery, tip obtuse to short-toothed, margin wavy to irregularly toothed, teeth ± obtuse, upper surface shiny and green to dull and bluish green, lower surface ± densely puberulent, becoming glabrous, dull, pale green
Fruit: maturing in 1 year; cup 10–18 mm wide, 6–9 mm deep, bowl-shaped, scales ± tubercled; nut 20–25 mm, oblong to ovoid, tip ± obtuse, shell glabrous inside
Ecology: Slopes, chaparral, woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: Peninsular Ranges. Hybrids, involving Q. cornelius-mulleri and Q. engelmannii , considered by Torrey as sp.

Native

var. frutescens Engelm.

Shrub 2–6 m
Leaf: blade 1.8–4 cm
Ecology: Chaparral
Elevation: 300–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, Tehachapi Mountain Area, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California (except Channel Islands)
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; STBL.

Native

var. wislizeni Engelm.

Tree 10–22 m
Leaf: blade 2–5 cm
Ecology: Canyons, slopes, pine/oak woodland
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast Ranges, Cascade Range Foothills, Sierra Nevada Foothills, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Hybridizes with Q. agrifolia, Q. kelloggii.
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 &IRR: 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21.