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Lithocarpus – Wikipedia

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– Classification:
– Lithocarpus is a genus in the beech family, Fagaceae.
– Around 340 species of Lithocarpus have been described, mostly found in Southeast Asia.
– Fossils show that Lithocarpus used to have a wider distribution in North America and Europe.
– The species are dominant in uplands above 1,000m and share ecological similarities with Dipterocarpaceae.
– North American tanoak was previously included in Lithocarpus but has been moved to a new genus, Notholithocarpus.

– Morphology:
– Lithocarpus trees are evergreen with leathery, alternate leaves.
– The seeds of Lithocarpus are nuts similar to oak acorns with cupules.
– The cupules of stone oaks show a wide variety in lamellae and scales.
– The seeds are often protected by a hard woody shell.
– Some Lithocarpus species have edible kernels while others are inedible and bitter.

– Species:
– Lithocarpus pseudoreinwardtii is a species of Lithocarpus.
– Lithocarpus hancei is another species within the genus.

– References:
– Various studies have been conducted on the diversity, evolution, and conservation of Lithocarpus species.
– Research has been done on the phylogeography and historical floristic exchanges of stone oaks.
– Taxonomic relationships within the Fagaceae family, including Lithocarpus, have been studied extensively.

– External Links:
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lithocarpus.
– Detailed information on individual Lithocarpus species can be found on www.asianfagaceae.com.

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