| Chrysolepis | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Quercoideae |
| Genus: | Chrysolepis Hjelmq. |
| Species | |
Chrysolepis is a small genus of plants in the familyFagaceae,endemic to the western United States. Its two species have the common namechinquapin. The genus occurs from westernWashington south to theTransverse Ranges in SouthernCalifornia, and east intoNevada.
Chrysolepis areevergreentrees andshrubs with simple, entire (untoothed)leaves with a dense layer of golden scales on the underside and a thinner layer on the upper side; the leaves persist for 3–4 years before falling.
Thefruit is a densely spinycupule containing 1–3 sweet, ediblenuts,[1] eaten by theindigenous peoples. The fruit also provides food for chipmunks and squirrels.[1]
Chrysolepis is related to the subtropical southeastAsian genusCastanopsis (in which it was formerly included), but differs in the nuts being triangular and fully enclosed in a sectioned cupule, and in having bisexualcatkins.Chrysolepis also differs from another allied genusCastanea (chestnuts), in nuts that take 14–16 months to mature (3–5 months inCastanea), evergreen leaves and the shoots having a terminal bud.
There are twospecies ofChrysolepis —Chrysolepis chrysophylla andChrysolepis sempervirens — which like many species in the related genera ofCastanopsis andCastanea are calledchinquapin, also spelled "chinkapin".
| Image | Name | Common name | Description | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Chrysolepis chrysophylla | golden chinquapin or giant chinquapin | A tree reaching 20–40 metres (66–131 ft) tall, or sometimes a shrub 3–10 metres (9.8–32.8 ft) tall.Chrysolepis chrysophylla grows at lower elevations thanC. sempervirens, from sea level to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), rarely 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). The leaves are 6–12 centimetres (2.4–4.7 in) long, with an acute (sharp-pointed) apex. Thebark is thick and rough. | It occurs in coastal areas of thePacific Coast Ranges from Washington nearSeattle south to theSan Luis Obispo areaCalifornia Coast Ranges. There is also a smalldisjunct population distribution in the northernSierra Nevada east of theSacramento Valley |
 | Chrysolepis sempervirens | bush chinquapin | Ashrub only 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft) tall.Chrysolepis sempervirens grows mostly at high elevation, 1,000–3,000 metres (3,300–9,800 ft) altitude. The leaves are smaller, 4–8 centimetres (1.6–3.1 in) long, with an obtuse (blunt-pointed or rounded) apex. The bark is thin and smooth. | It occurs in interior southwest Oregon and California, in theKlamath Mountains, the fullSierra Nevada range, and theSan Gabriel,San Bernardino, andSan Jacinto Mountains of theSouthern California Transverse Ranges. |
Authority control databases: National |
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