Quercus semecarpifolia (Fagaceae) Evergreen tree

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Quercus semecarpifolia
Evergreen tree
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The Quercus semecarpifolia plant species is found in E. Asia - China to the Himalayas. It is a member of the Fagaceae family. Some home gardeners know the variety as Q. aquifolioides.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Quercus semecarpifolia
Family:  Fagaceae
Author:  Sm.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  30   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Often the dominant species on north-facing slopes in the Himalayas, from 2400 - 3600 metres[11, 146]. In China it grows right up to the tree-line, where it becomes a thicket-forming shrub[11].

Edible Uses: Seed - cooked[105, 177]. Up to 3cm long[200], it can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins, these can be leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin has been leached. The traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground overwinter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would have lost most of its astringency. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute.

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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