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Lithocarpus

Family

Fagaceae

This genus is part of Quercus as understood by some botanists but the group is in fact very distinct from the true oaks and indeed is now placed in a different subdivision of the Fagaceae, namely the subfamily Castaneoideae. The botanical characters by which it differs from Quercus are: flower-spikes erect (in Quercus the male spikes are pendulous); male flowers with a rudimentary ovary and usually twelve stamens (six or less in Quercus); anthers minute; female flowers with minute pore-like stigmas. Other characters found in many species of Lithocarpus but not in Quercus are: flower-spikes often androgynous, i.e., comprising both male and female flowers, the latter usually at the base; shell (pericarp) of acorn sometimes thick, woody and furrowed (as in the type-species L. javensis); cup (cupule) sometimes of a bony or woody consistency (e.g., in L. pachyphyllus, q.v.).

With the exception of L. densiflorus of California all the species (about one hundred in all) are confined to E. and S.E. Asia (two of them in Japan).

The generic name Pasania, used in some works, is a synonym of Lithocarpus.

Species articles