WorldFloraDB - Chrysolepis chrysophylla

Characteristics

An evergreen tree. It grows 9-30 m high. The trunk can be 1 m across. The tree is broadly cone shape. The bark is grey and furrowed. The leaves are oblong to sword shaped and 10 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. They are rigid and leathery. They do not have teeth. They are glossy dark green above and hairy underneath. The male and female flowers are separate but usually on the same spike. They are creamy white and in catkins about 4 cm long. They have a scent. The fruit are a spiny husk about 4 cm across. These contain 1-3 brown nuts. They are edible.

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Trees or erect shrubs , to 45 m. Bark thick, rough. Twigs densely covered with tight, yellowish, peltate trichomes. Leaves: petiole 5-8 mm. Leaf blade flat or folded upward along midvein, margins entire, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces abaxially usually golden or brownish with dense glandular trichomes. Fruits: cupule yellowish, 20-60 mm thick, densely spiny, surface obscured; nut light brown, (6-)8-12(-15) mm, glabrous, completely enclosed by cupule until maturity.

Life form

perennial

Growth form

tree

Growth support

free-standing

Foliage retention

evergreen

Sexuality

monoecy

Pollination

anemogamy

Spread

-

Mature width (meter)

-

Mature height (meter)

20.0 - 25.0

Root system

-

Rooting depth (meter)

-

Root diameter (meter)

-

Flower color

Blooming months

Jan	Feb	Mar
Apr	May	Jun
Jul	Aug	Sep
Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruit color

Fruiting months

-

Nitrogen fixer

-

Photosynthetic pathway

c3

Environment

It is a temperate plant. They are native to the western United States. They grow in woods and thickets in coastal mountains. It can grow in poor soil conditions. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

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Forested slopes near the coast in California. Found in many soil types ranging from dry and rocky to deep rich soils.

Light
Soil humidity
Soil texture
Soil acidity
Soil nutriment	-
Hardiness (USDA)

Usage

The kernel or nut is roasted and eaten.

Uses	environmental use material wood
Edible	nuts seeds
Therapeutic use	-
Human toxicity	-
Animal toxicity	-

Cultivation

It can be grown from fresh seed. They can be grown from cuttings.

Mode	cuttings seedlings
Germination duration (days)	-
Germination temperacture (C°)	-
Germination luminosity	-
Germination treatment	-
Minimum temperature (C°)	-18
Optimum temperature (C°)	-
Size	-
Vigor	-
Productivity	-