Lithocarpus elegans
Species of tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lithocarpus elegans is a flowering plant in the beech family Fagaceae. The specific epithet elegans means 'elegant', referring to the acorns and cupules.[3]
| Lithocarpus elegans | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Meghalaya, India | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Lithocarpus |
| Species: | L. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithocarpus elegans | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Synonymy
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Description
Lithocarpus elegans grows as a tree up to 30 m (100 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of up to 70 cm (30 in). The greyish brown bark is fissured or lenticellate. The coriaceous leaves measure up to 17 cm (7 in) long. Its edible brown acorns are ovoid to roundish and measure up to 2.5 cm (1 in) across.[3]
Distribution and habitat
Lithocarpus elegans is native to the eastern Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, northeastern India, Bhutan and Nepal), Indo-China, and western and central Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi).[2][3] Its habitat is dipterocarp to lower montane forests up to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) elevation.[3]
Conservation
Lithocarpus elegans has been assessed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. The area in which the species occurs has experienced urban development, conversion of land for agriculture and deforestation. The species is locally harvested. However the species is present in protected areas.[1]
Uses
The timber is used locally as firewood and for charcoal.[3]