Castanopsis sclerophylla (syn. Lithocarpus chinensis), the Chinese tanbark-oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fagaceae, native to southern China.[1][2] In the wild it is typically found growing in broad-leaved evergreen forests at 200 to 1,000 m (700 to 3,300 ft) above sea level.[3] It is an evergreen tree with glossy, thick leaves and attractive flaky bark, and reaches 20 m (66 ft) in height.[4]
| Castanopsis sclerophylla | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Castanopsis |
| Species: | C. sclerophylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Castanopsis sclerophylla | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
The small nuts are edible, and the Chinese process them into a foodstuff similar to tofu.[3][5] It is used as a street tree in a number of Chinese cities.[6] Hardy to USDA zone 7b, it does well in the southeastern United States, and is offered by several nurseries there under its synonym Lithocarpus chinensis.[4]