Quercus semecarpifolia Sm. in A.Rees

Afghanistan, Bhutan, China (Xizang), India (Kumaun, Sikkim), Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan; 2500-4000 m;

reaches 20-30 m tall; often smaller; trunk to 1.5 m in diameter; columnar habit with domed crown; spreading branches;

2-5(-10) x 1.5-3(-6) cm ; evergreen or semi-evergreen; leathery; elliptic or elliptic-oblong; apex obtuse; base more or less cordate; margin entire (above all on older twigs) or with 1-8 sharp teeth, wavy; dark green, soon hailess above except on midrib; downy, fawn-coloured beneath, specially on young leaves; older leaves become glabrous; 7-12 vein pairs raised under, at an angle of 55-60° with midrib; midrib sinuous near apex; petiole stout, 2-7 mm long, sometimes absent, stout, brown tomentose;

May; male catkins 5-12 cm, golden yellow, flowers with 8-16 stamens; pistillate inflorescences 5-10 mm, bearing 1-3 flowers;

acorn 2.5 cm in diameter, globose, glabrous, black when mature; singly or paired on a short downy stalk; apex pointed; cup flat (1 cm in diameter, 0.5cm high), 1 mm thick, at the base of the nut only; scales triangular, ciliate, grey brown; maturing same year;

hardy; all types of soils; mountain forests;

– A. Camus : tome 1, p. 391, n° 92; – Sub-genus Cerris, Section Ilex; – See the Key for Asian simalar Quercus ; – Written ’ semicarpifolia ’ by A. Camus; – Q. obtusifolia Rydb. 1901 is a synonym of Q. gambelii ;