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| authority = (D. Don) Spach, 1841
| authority = (D. Don) Spach, 1841
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = About 140; see text
| subdivision = About 120; see text
| synonyms = ''Limlia'' <small>Masamune & Tomiya</small><br />
| synonyms = ''Limlia'' <small>Masamune & Tomiya</small><br />
''Pasaniopsis'' <small>Kudo</small><br />
''Pasaniopsis'' <small>Kudo</small><br />
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}}
}}


'''''Castanopsis''''', commonly called '''chinquapin''' or '''chinkapin''', is a [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] trees belonging to the beech family, [[Fagaceae]]. The genus contains about 140 [[species]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Strijk|first=J.S.|date=September 4, 2018|title="asianfagaceae.com – The complete database for information on the evolutionary history, diversity, identification and conservation of over 700 Species of Asian trees".|url=https://www.asianfagaceae.com|url-status=live|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=Asian Fagaceae}}</ref>, which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern [[Asia]]. A total of 58 species are native to [[China]], with 30 [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]]; the other species occur further south, through [[Indochina]] to [[Indonesia]], mountainous areas of [[Taiwan]], and also in [[Japan]]. The English name chinkapin is shared with other related plants, including the golden chinkapins of the [[Pacific]] [[United States]], which are sometimes included within ''Castanopsis'' but are more often considered a separate but very closely related genus, ''[[Chrysolepis]]''.
'''''Castanopsis''''', commonly called '''chinquapin''' or '''chinkapin''', is a [[genus]] of [[evergreen]] trees belonging to the beech family, [[Fagaceae]]. The genus contains about 120 [[species]], which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern [[Asia]]. A total of 58 species are native to [[China]], with 30 [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]]; the other species occur further south, through [[Indochina]] to [[Indonesia]], mountainous areas of [[Taiwan]], and also in [[Japan]]. The English name chinkapin is shared with other related plants, including the golden chinkapins of the [[Pacific]] [[United States]], which are sometimes included within ''Castanopsis'' but are more often considered a separate but very closely related genus, ''[[Chrysolepis]]''.


They show many characters typical of [[Fagaceae]]. They are at least large shrubs but some species grow into sizeable trees. Their leaves are usually tough and much [[Sclerosis (medicine)|sclerotized]] and have a well-developed [[cuticula]]. Their [[flower]]s are [[unisexual]], and the male ones are borne in erect [[catkin]]s. The [[epigynous]] female flowers produce a single [[seed]] each but are congregated in small clusters. The [[fruit]] is a [[calybium]], the kind of encased [[nut (fruit)|nut]] typical of Fagaceae. The calybium (nut) resembles a pointed [[acorn]]; the cupule (casing) is hard like that of beechnuts and spiny like that of chestnuts. Three thickened ridges run the length of the calybium's shell.
They show many characters typical of [[Fagaceae]]. They are at least large shrubs but some species grow into sizeable trees. Their leaves are usually tough and much [[Sclerosis (medicine)|sclerotized]] and have a well-developed [[cuticula]]. Their [[flower]]s are [[unisexual]], and the male ones are borne in erect [[catkin]]s. The [[epigynous]] female flowers produce a single [[seed]] each but are congregated in small clusters. The [[fruit]] is a [[calybium]], the kind of encased [[nut (fruit)|nut]] typical of Fagaceae.<ref name = geeetal2003>Gee ''et al.'' (2003)</ref> The calybium (nut) resembles a pointed [[acorn]]; the cupule (casing) is hard like that of beechnuts and spiny like that of chestnuts. Three thickened ridges run the length of the calybium's shell.<ref name = geeetal2003 />


==Uses and ecology==
==Uses and ecology==
In their rather circumscribed area of occurrence, ''Castanopsis'' are able to inhabit a wide range of temperate to tropical [[habitat]] and are often [[keystone species]] in their ecosystems. They are plentiful in [[ecotone]]s as diverse as [[Borneo montane rain forests]], [[Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests]] and [[Northern Triangle temperate forests]]. Generally they are common in [[Fagales]]-dominated montane forests and temperate to subtropical [[laurel forest]]s. In the latter, they are characteristic elements of the [[climax vegetation]] in essentially their entire continental Asian range, as well as on [[Taiwan]].<!-- I put these before the fullstop because they only source their respective sentences -->
In their rather circumscribed area of occurrence, ''Castanopsis'' are able to inhabit a wide range of temperate to tropical [[habitat]] and are often [[keystone species]] in their ecosystems.<ref name = geeetal2003 /> They are plentiful in [[ecotone]]s as diverse as [[Borneo montane rain forests]], [[Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests]] and [[Northern Triangle temperate forests]]. Generally they are common in [[Fagales]]-dominated montane forests and temperate to subtropical [[laurel forest]]s. In the latter, they are characteristic elements of the [[climax vegetation]] in essentially their entire continental Asian range, as well as on [[Taiwan]].<ref name = geeetal2003 /><!-- I put these before the fullstop because they only source their respective sentences -->


[[Image:Braunkohletagebau-Garzweiler 2006.jpg|thumb|left|[[Strip mining]] for fossil ''Castanopsis'' in the form of lignite ("brown coal"). [[Garzweiler]] ([[Germany]]), 2006. Click to enlarge; note [[Bagger 288]] and 289 in the left background.]]
[[Image:Braunkohletagebau-Garzweiler 2006.jpg|thumb|left|[[Strip mining]] for fossil ''Castanopsis'' in the form of lignite ("brown coal"). [[Garzweiler]] ([[Germany]]), 2006. Click to enlarge; note [[Bagger 288]] and 289 in the left background.]]
Plants of this genus grow on many [[soil]] types, as long as they are not [[calcareous]]. Several species have [[adaptation (biology)|adapted]] to [[podsol]]ic, [[peat bog]], [[swamp]] and other [[acid]]ic and/or wet soils, or to the poor dry soils common in [[arid]] habitat. Around the [[Oligocene|Oligo]]-[[Miocene]] boundary, ''Castanopsis'' grew abundantly along rivers and in bogs and swamps of then-subtropical [[Europe]]. The prehistoric [[plant community]] ''Castanopsietum oligo-miocenicum'' is the source of much of the [[lignite]] ("brown coal") deposits in Western and Central Europe.<!-- this sources whole paragraph for example -->
Plants of this genus grow on many [[soil]] types, as long as they are not [[calcareous]]. Several species have [[adaptation (biology)|adapted]] to [[podsol]]ic, [[peat bog]], [[swamp]] and other [[acid]]ic and/or wet soils, or to the poor dry soils common in [[arid]] habitat. Around the [[Oligocene|Oligo]]-[[Miocene]] boundary, ''Castanopsis'' grew abundantly along rivers and in bogs and swamps of then-subtropical [[Europe]]. The prehistoric [[plant community]] ''Castanopsietum oligo-miocenicum'' is the source of much of the [[lignite]] ("brown coal") deposits in Western and Central Europe.<ref name = geeetal2003 /><!-- this sources whole paragraph for example -->


Most species yield valuable [[timber]] but some have become rare due to unsustainable [[logging]]; ''[[Castanopsis catappaefolia|C. catappaefolia]]'' is even in danger of [[extinct]]ion. As noted above, however, perhaps the most important use for ''Castanopsis'' wood is in its fossil form. 175,400 [[metric ton]]s of lignite - much of which was former chinkapin trees - were mined in [[Germany]] in 2001.
Most species yield valuable [[timber]] but some have become rare due to unsustainable [[logging]]; ''[[Castanopsis catappaefolia|C. catappaefolia]]'' is even in danger of [[extinct]]ion. As noted above, however, perhaps the most important use for ''Castanopsis'' wood is in its fossil form. 175,400 [[metric ton]]s of lignite - much of which was former chinkapin trees - were mined in [[Germany]] in 2001.
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[[Meguro, Tokyo]] and [[Matsudo, Chiba]] in [[Japan]] use ''shii'' (椎; ''[[Castanopsis cuspidata]]''){{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- the information is not clear; it might relate to Castanopsis in general or to shii especially --> as one of their municipal symbols. The well-known and commercially important [[shiitake]] [[mushroom]] likes to grow on the logs of ''C. cuspidata'' and derives its common name from this: ''shii-take'' simply means "''Castanopsis cuspidata'' mushroom".
[[Meguro, Tokyo]] and [[Matsudo, Chiba]] in [[Japan]] use ''shii'' (椎; ''[[Castanopsis cuspidata]]''){{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- the information is not clear; it might relate to Castanopsis in general or to shii especially --> as one of their municipal symbols. The well-known and commercially important [[shiitake]] [[mushroom]] likes to grow on the logs of ''C. cuspidata'' and derives its common name from this: ''shii-take'' simply means "''Castanopsis cuspidata'' mushroom".


== Species ==
==Selected species==
* ''[[Castanopsis acuminatissima]]'' <small>(Blume) A. DC.</small> (= ''Castanea acuminatissima'' <small>Blume</small>, ''Quercus junghuhnii'' <small>Miq.</small>)
{{Main|List of Castanopsis species}}
* ''[[Castanopsis argentea]]'' <small>(Blume) A. DC.</small> (= ''Castanea argentea'' <small>(Blume) Blume</small>)
*
* ''[[Castanopsis argyrophylla]]'' <small>King ex Hook. f.</small>
[[image:Castanopsis cuspidata SZ2.png|thumb|right|''[[Castanopsis cuspidata|Shii]]'' (''Castanopsis cuspidata'') parts drawing]]
[[image:Castanopsis cuspidata SZ2.png|thumb|right|''[[Castanopsis cuspidata|Shii]]'' (''Castanopsis cuspidata'') parts drawing]]
* ''[[Castanopsis borneensis]]'' <small>King</small>
*
* ''[[Castanopsis buruana]]'' <small>Miq.</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis calathiformis]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis carlesii]]'' <small>(Hemsl.) Hayata</small> (= ''Quercus carlesii'' <small>Hemsl.</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis catappaefolia]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis ceratacantha]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis cerebrina]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis choboensis]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis chunii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis clarkei]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis clemensii]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis concinna]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis costata]]'' <small>(Blume) A.DC.</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis crassifolia]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis curtisii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis cuspidata]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis delavayi]]'' <small>Franch.</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis densinervia]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis diversifolia]]'' <small>(Kurz) King ex Hook. f.</small> (= ''Castanea diversifolia'' <small>Kurz</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis endertii]]'' <small>Hatus. ''ex'' Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis evansii]]'' <small>Elmer</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis eyrei]]'' <small>(Champ. ex Benth.) Tutcher</small> (= ''Castanopsis caudata'' <small>Franch.</small>, ''Quercus eyrei'' <small>Champ. ex Benth.</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis fabri]]'' <small>Hance</small> (= ''Castanopsis stellatospina'' <small>Hayata</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis fargesii]]'' <small>Franch.</small> (= ''Castanopsis taiwaniana'' <small>Hayata</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis fissa]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis fordii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis foxworthyi]]'' <small>Schottky</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis fulva]]'' <small>Gamble</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis globigemmata]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis hainanensis]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis hypophoenicea]]'' <small>(Seemen) Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis hystrix]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis indica]]'' <small>(Roxb. ex Lindl.) A. DC.</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis inermis]]'' <small>(Lindl.) Benth. & Hook. f.</small> (= ''Callaeocarpus sumatrana'' <small>Miq.</small>, ''Castanea inermis'' <small>Lindl.</small>, ''Castanopsis sumatrana'' <small>(Miq.) A. DC.</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis javanica]]'' <small>(Blume) A. DC.</small> (= ''Castanea javanica'' <small>(Blume) Blume</small>, ''Fagus javanica'' <small>Blume</small>, ''Quercus discocarpa'' <small>Hance</small>, ''Quercus javanica'' <small>(Blume) Drake</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis kawakamii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis kweichowensis]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis lamontii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis lanceifolia]]'' <small>(Kurz) Hickel & A. Camus</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis longzhouica]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis lucida]]'' <small>(Nees) Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis megacarpa]]'' <small>Gamble</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis mekongensis]]''
[[Image:Castanopsis sieboldii1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Castanopsis sieboldii]]'' leaves]]
[[Image:Castanopsis sieboldii1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Castanopsis sieboldii]]'' leaves]]
* ''[[Castanopsis microphylla]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis motleyana]]'' <small>King</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis nephelioides]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis oligoneura]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis orthacantha]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis ouonbiensis]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis oviformis]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis paucispina]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis pedunculata]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis philipensis]]'' <small>(Blanco) S. Vidal</small> (= ''Fagus philipensis'' <small>Blanco</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis pierrei]]'' <small>Hance</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis platyacantha]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis psilophylla]]'' <small>Soepadmo</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis rockii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis sclerophylla]]'' <small>(Lindl. & Paxton) Schottky</small> (= ''Quercus chinensis'' <small>C. Abel</small>, ''Quercus sclerophylla'' <small>Lindl. & Paxton</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis scortechinii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis sieboldii]]'' <small>(Makino) Hatus.</small> (= ''Castanopsis cuspidata'' var. ''sieboldii'' <small>(Makino) Nakai</small>, ''Pasania cuspidata'' var. ''sieboldii'' <small>Makino</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis tessellata]]'' <small>Hickel & A. Camus</small>
* ''[[Castanopsis tibetana]]'' <small>Hance</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis tribuloides]]'' <small>(Sm.) A. DC.</small> (= ''Quercus tribuloides'' <small>Sm.</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis tungurrut]]'' <small>(Blume) A. DC.</small> (= ''Castanea tungurrut'' <small>Blume</small>)
* ''[[Castanopsis uraiana]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis wallichii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis wattii]]''
* ''[[Castanopsis xichouensis]]''

===Formerly placed here===
===Formerly placed here===
* ''[[Castanea henryi]]'' <small>(Skan) Rehder & E. H. Wilson</small> (as ''C. henryi'' <small>Skan</small>)
* ''[[Castanea henryi]]'' <small>(Skan) Rehder & E. H. Wilson</small> (as ''C. henryi'' <small>Skan</small>)
Line 48: Line 117:
* ''Castanopsis salinarum'' <small>(Unger) Kirchheimer</small>
* ''Castanopsis salinarum'' <small>(Unger) Kirchheimer</small>
* ''Castanopsis schmidtiana'' <small>(Geinitz) Kräusel</small>
* ''Castanopsis schmidtiana'' <small>(Geinitz) Kräusel</small>
These are known and identifiable from their fruit. It is not entirely clear if they belong here or into ''[[Chrysolepis]]'', but the pattern of [[biogeography]] - with the two genera being most diverse around the [[Pacific]] but absent from [[North America]] east of the [[Rocky Mountains]]{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- also as fossils? --> suggests that they are indeed correctly assigned to ''Castanopsis''. In addition, two [[form taxa]] refer to the remains of these trees, at least in part: the fossil wood ''Castanoxylon eschweilerense'' and the fossil pollen ''Tricolporopollenites cingulum'' ssp. ''pusillus''.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Gee|first=Carole T.|last2=Sander|first2=P. Martin|last3=Petzelberger|first3=Bianka E. M.|date=2003|title=A Miocene rodent nut cache in coastal dunes of the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany|url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00337.x|journal=Palaeontology|language=en|volume=46|issue=6|pages=1133–1149|doi=10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00337.x|issn=1475-4983}}</ref>
These are known and identifiable from their fruit. It is not entirely clear if they belong here or into ''[[Chrysolepis]]'', but the pattern of [[biogeography]] - with the two genera being most diverse around the [[Pacific]] but absent from [[North America]] east of the [[Rocky Mountains]]{{Verify source|date=December 2007}}<!-- also as fossils? --> suggests that they are indeed correctly assigned to ''Castanopsis''. In addition, two [[form taxa]] refer to the remains of these trees, at least in part: the fossil wood ''Castanoxylon eschweilerense'' and the fossil pollen ''Tricolporopollenites cingulum'' ssp. ''pusillus''.<ref name = geeetal2003 />


''Castanopsis praefissa'' and ''Castanopsis praeouonbiensis'' are described from fossil specimens collected from the upper [[Miocene]] [[Shengxian]] Formation, [[Zhejiang Province]], [[Southeast China]]. The [[fossil]] leavesare obovate to elliptical with serration mostly confined to the upper 1/3 of the leaf. The fossil cupule (upper part of the acorn) is [[globose]] with branched spines, and a broadly ovate nut scar. The fossil leaves and cupule have been compared with those extant in this genus. ''Castanopsis praefissa'' shows the closest affinity to ''C. fissa'', and ''C. praeouonbiensis'' closely resembles ''C. ouonbiensis''. ''Castanopsis praeouonbiensis'' and ''C. praefissa'' became extinct in this area because of the cooling climate from the late Miocene to the present day in Zhejiang Province.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Ruiyun |last2=Sun |first2=Bainian |last3=Wang |first3=Qiujun |last4=Ma |first4=Fujun |last5=Xu |first5=Xiaohui |last6=Wang |first6=Yunfeng |last7=Jia |first7=Hui |title=Two new ''Castanopsis'' (Fagaceae) species based on cupule and foliage from the upper Miocene of eastern Zhejiang, China |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |date=2014 |volume=301 |issue=1 |pages=25–39 |doi=10.1007/s00606-014-1051-7|s2cid=18909589 |url=http://ir.lzu.edu.cn/handle/262010/120664 }}</ref>
''Castanopsis praefissa'' and ''Castanopsis praeouonbiensis'' are described from fossil specimens collected from the upper [[Miocene]] [[Shengxian]] Formation, [[Zhejiang Province]], [[Southeast China]]. The [[fossil]] leavesare obovate to elliptical with serration mostly confined to the upper 1/3 of the leaf. The fossil cupule (upper part of the acorn) is [[globose]] with branched spines, and a broadly ovate nut scar. The fossil leaves and cupule have been compared with those extant in this genus. ''Castanopsis praefissa'' shows the closest affinity to ''C. fissa'', and ''C. praeouonbiensis'' closely resembles ''C. ouonbiensis''. ''Castanopsis praeouonbiensis'' and ''C. praefissa'' became extinct in this area because of the cooling climate from the late Miocene to the present day in Zhejiang Province.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Li |first1=Ruiyun |last2=Sun |first2=Bainian |last3=Wang |first3=Qiujun |last4=Ma |first4=Fujun |last5=Xu |first5=Xiaohui |last6=Wang |first6=Yunfeng |last7=Jia |first7=Hui |title=Two new ''Castanopsis'' (Fagaceae) species based on cupule and foliage from the upper Miocene of eastern Zhejiang, China |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |date=2014 |volume=301 |issue=1 |pages=25–39 |doi=10.1007/s00606-014-1051-7|s2cid=18909589 |url=http://ir.lzu.edu.cn/handle/262010/120664 }}</ref>
Line 54: Line 123:
The oldest known records of the genus are those of ''Castanopsis rothwellii'' and ''Castaneophyllum patagonicum'' from the Eocene of Patagonia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wilf|first1=Peter|last2=Nixon|first2=Kevin C.|last3=Gandolfo|first3=María A.|last4=Cúneo|first4=N. Rubén|date=2019-11-14|title=Response to Comment on "Eocene Fagaceae from Patagonia and Gondwanan legacy in Asian rainforests"|journal=Science|volume=366|issue=6467|pages=eaaz2297|doi=10.1126/science.aaz2297|pmid=31727802|s2cid=208032602|issn=0036-8075|doi-access=free}}</ref>
The oldest known records of the genus are those of ''Castanopsis rothwellii'' and ''Castaneophyllum patagonicum'' from the Eocene of Patagonia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wilf|first1=Peter|last2=Nixon|first2=Kevin C.|last3=Gandolfo|first3=María A.|last4=Cúneo|first4=N. Rubén|date=2019-11-14|title=Response to Comment on "Eocene Fagaceae from Patagonia and Gondwanan legacy in Asian rainforests"|journal=Science|volume=366|issue=6467|pages=eaaz2297|doi=10.1126/science.aaz2297|pmid=31727802|s2cid=208032602|issn=0036-8075|doi-access=free}}</ref>


== References ==
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{aut|Gee, Carole T.; Sander, P. Martin & Petzelberger, Bianka E.M.}} (2003): A Miocene rodent nut cache in coastal dunes of the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany. ''[[Palaeontology (journal)|Palaeontology]]'' '''46'''(6): 1133-1149. <small>{{doi|10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00337.x}}</small>


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Castanopsis}}
{{Commons category|Castanopsis}}
⚫
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=105821 ''Flora of China'': ''Castanopsis'']
* Individual species are described in detail on [https://www.asianfagaceae.com www.asianfagaceae.com].
⚫
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=105821 ''Flora of China'': ''Castanopsis'']


{{Taxonbar|from=Q1065400}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1065400}}

Revision as of 07:34, 16 May 2021

For other uses of "chinquapin" or "chinkapin", see Chinquapin (disambiguation).

Castanopsis
Temporal range: Eocene to Present 52–0 Ma
Castanopsis sieboldii
Calybia (nuts) of Castanopsis sieboldii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Subfamily: Quercoideae
Genus: Castanopsis
(D. Don) Spach, 1841
Species

About 120; see text

Synonyms

Limlia Masamune & Tomiya
Pasaniopsis Kudo
Shiia Makino
and see text

Castanopsis, commonly called chinquapin or chinkapin, is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the beech family, Fagaceae. The genus contains about 120 species, which are today restricted to tropical and subtropical eastern Asia. A total of 58 species are native to China, with 30 endemic; the other species occur further south, through Indochina to Indonesia, mountainous areas of Taiwan, and also in Japan. The English name chinkapin is shared with other related plants, including the golden chinkapins of the Pacific United States, which are sometimes included within Castanopsis but are more often considered a separate but very closely related genus, Chrysolepis.

They show many characters typical of Fagaceae. They are at least large shrubs but some species grow into sizeable trees. Their leaves are usually tough and much sclerotized and have a well-developed cuticula. Their flowers are unisexual, and the male ones are borne in erect catkins. The epigynous female flowers produce a single seed each but are congregated in small clusters. The fruit is a calybium, the kind of encased nut typical of Fagaceae.[1] The calybium (nut) resembles a pointed acorn; the cupule (casing) is hard like that of beechnuts and spiny like that of chestnuts. Three thickened ridges run the length of the calybium's shell.[1]

Uses and ecology

In their rather circumscribed area of occurrence, Castanopsis are able to inhabit a wide range of temperate to tropical habitat and are often keystone species in their ecosystems.[1] They are plentiful in ecotones as diverse as Borneo montane rain forests, Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests and Northern Triangle temperate forests. Generally they are common in Fagales-dominated montane forests and temperate to subtropical laurel forests. In the latter, they are characteristic elements of the climax vegetation in essentially their entire continental Asian range, as well as on Taiwan.[1]

Strip mining for fossil Castanopsis in the form of lignite ("brown coal"). Garzweiler (Germany), 2006. Click to enlarge; note Bagger 288 and 289 in the left background.

Plants of this genus grow on many soil types, as long as they are not calcareous. Several species have adapted to podsolic, peat bog, swamp and other acidic and/or wet soils, or to the poor dry soils common in arid habitat. Around the Oligo-Miocene boundary, Castanopsis grew abundantly along rivers and in bogs and swamps of then-subtropical Europe. The prehistoric plant community Castanopsietum oligo-miocenicum is the source of much of the lignite ("brown coal") deposits in Western and Central Europe.[1]

Most species yield valuable timber but some have become rare due to unsustainable logging; C. catappaefolia is even in danger of extinction. As noted above, however, perhaps the most important use for Castanopsis wood is in its fossil form. 175,400 metric tons of lignite - much of which was former chinkapin trees - were mined in Germany in 2001.

As with many Fagaceae, the nuts of many Castanopsis species are edible. The trees may be grown for their nuts, but more often they are used as forestry or ornamental trees and the nuts are collected opportunistically. Among many animals, such as tits, corvids, rodents, deer and pigs, the nuts are popular as food too.

Meguro, Tokyo and Matsudo, Chiba in Japan use shii (椎; Castanopsis cuspidata)[verification needed] as one of their municipal symbols. The well-known and commercially important shiitake mushroom likes to grow on the logs of C. cuspidata and derives its common name from this: shii-take simply means "Castanopsis cuspidata mushroom".

Selected species

Shii (Castanopsis cuspidata) parts drawing
Castanopsis sieboldii leaves

Formerly placed here

Fossil record

Fossil species known from Miocene Europe are:

  • Castanopsis pyramidata (Menzel) Kirchheimer
  • Castanopsis salinarum (Unger) Kirchheimer
  • Castanopsis schmidtiana (Geinitz) Kräusel

These are known and identifiable from their fruit. It is not entirely clear if they belong here or into Chrysolepis, but the pattern of biogeography - with the two genera being most diverse around the Pacific but absent from North America east of the Rocky Mountains[verification needed] suggests that they are indeed correctly assigned to Castanopsis. In addition, two form taxa refer to the remains of these trees, at least in part: the fossil wood Castanoxylon eschweilerense and the fossil pollen Tricolporopollenites cingulum ssp. pusillus.[1]

Castanopsis praefissa and Castanopsis praeouonbiensis are described from fossil specimens collected from the upper Miocene Shengxian Formation, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China. The fossil leavesare obovate to elliptical with serration mostly confined to the upper 1/3 of the leaf. The fossil cupule (upper part of the acorn) is globose with branched spines, and a broadly ovate nut scar. The fossil leaves and cupule have been compared with those extant in this genus. Castanopsis praefissa shows the closest affinity to C. fissa, and C. praeouonbiensis closely resembles C. ouonbiensis. Castanopsis praeouonbiensis and C. praefissa became extinct in this area because of the cooling climate from the late Miocene to the present day in Zhejiang Province.[2]

The oldest known records of the genus are those of Castanopsis rothwellii and Castaneophyllum patagonicum from the Eocene of Patagonia.[3]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d e f Gee et al. (2003)
  2. ^ Li, Ruiyun; Sun, Bainian; Wang, Qiujun; Ma, Fujun; Xu, Xiaohui; Wang, Yunfeng; Jia, Hui (2014). "Two new Castanopsis (Fagaceae) species based on cupule and foliage from the upper Miocene of eastern Zhejiang, China". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 301 (1): 25–39. doi:10.1007/s00606-014-1051-7. S2CID 18909589.
  3. ^ Wilf, Peter; Nixon, Kevin C.; Gandolfo, María A.; Cúneo, N. Rubén (2019-11-14). "Response to Comment on "Eocene Fagaceae from Patagonia and Gondwanan legacy in Asian rainforests"". Science. 366 (6467): eaaz2297. doi:10.1126/science.aaz2297. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 31727802. S2CID 208032602.

References

  • Gee, Carole T.; Sander, P. Martin & Petzelberger, Bianka E.M. (2003): A Miocene rodent nut cache in coastal dunes of the Lower Rhine Embayment, Germany. Palaeontology 46(6): 1133-1149. doi:10.1046/j.0031-0239.2003.00337.x
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