2009-11-17T17:31:41Z
<p><i><b>Lithocarpus densiflorus</b></i>, commonly known as the <b>Tanoak</b> or <b>Tanbark-oak</b>, is an <a href='/en/Evergreen' title='Evergreen'>evergreen</a> <a href='/en/Tree' title='Tree'>tree</a> in the beech family <a href='/en/Fagaceae' title='Fagaceae'>Fagaceae</a>, native to the western <a href='/en/United_States' title='United States'>United States</a>, in <a href='/en/California' title='California'>California</a> as far south as the <span title='Transverse Ranges'>Transverse Ranges</span> and north to southwest <a href='/en/Oregon' title='Oregon'>Oregon</a>. It can reach 40 m tall (though 15–25 m is more usual) in the <span title='California Coast Ranges'>California Coast Ranges</span>, and can have a trunk diameter of 60–190 cm.</p>
<p>Although currently included in the genus <i><a href='/en/Lithocarpus' title='Lithocarpus'>Lithocarpus</a></i>, genetic evidence (Manos et al. 2001) suggests it is only distantly related to the rest of the genus (all found in southeast <a href='/en/Asia' title='Asia'>Asia</a>).</p>
<p>The <a href='/en/Leaf' title='Leaf'>leaves</a> are alternate, 7–15 cm long, with toothed margins and a hard, leathery texture, and persist for 3–4 years. At first they are covered in dense orange-brown scurfy hairs on both sides, but those on the upper surface soon wear off, those on the under surface persisting longer but eventually wearing off too.</p>
<p>The <a href='/en/Seed' title='Seed'>seed</a> is a <a href='/en/Nut_%28fruit%29' title='Nut (fruit)'>nut</a> 2–3 cm long and 2 cm diameter, very similar to an <a href='/en/Oak' title='Oak'>oak</a> <span title='Acorn'>acorn</span>, but with a very hard, woody nut shell more like a <a href='/en/Hazel' title='Hazel'>hazel</a> nut. The nut sits in a cup during its 18-month maturation; the outside surface of the cup is rough with short spines. The nuts are produced in clusters of a few together on a single stem. The nut kernel is very bitter, and is inedible for people without extensive leaching, although <a href='/en/Squirrel' title='Squirrel'>squirrels</a> eat them. Some California <a href='/en/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States' title='Native Americans in the United States'>Native Americans</a> prefer this nut to those of many <a href='/en/Oak' class='mw-redirect' title='Quercus'>Quercus</a> acorns because it stores well due to the comparatively high tannin content.</p>
false
fotopedia-en-Lithocarpus_densiflorus
fotopedia
Lithocarpus densiflorus
false
2009-11-18T17:46:28Z
3.0375
1970-01-01T00:00:00Z
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