Quercus salicina - Quercus salicina

An evergreen tall tree of the Fagaceae family (APG classification: Fagaceae). It grows to about 15 meters tall, with gray-black, smooth bark, which may become fissured on older trees. The branches are thin and well-branched. The leaves are thin, with wavy edges, sharp serrations, and slightly drooping tails. The surface is highly glossy, while the underside secretes wax, which shines brightly in the wind and is white, hence the name Urashirakashi. In May, male and female inflorescences are produced on the current year's branches. The cupule is narrow and compact at the base, 1-1.5 cm in diameter. The ring has 6-7 layers and is densely covered with gray-brown hairs. The nuts ripen in October of the following year. It is distributed from Honshu west of Miyagi Prefecture to Okinawa and Taiwan.

[Shinsuke Hagiwara January 21, 2020]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ブナ科（APG分類：ブナ科）の常緑高木。高さ15メートル前後、樹皮は灰黒色で平滑、老木では裂け目が入る。枝は細くよく分枝する。葉の質は薄く、縁(へり)は波打ち、鋸歯(きょし)は鋭く、先端は尾状でやや垂れる。表面は光沢が強く、裏はろう質を分泌し、風に吹かれると鮮やかに映り、白いので、裏白樫の名がある。5月、当年枝に雄花序と雌花序をつける。殻斗(かくと)は基部が細く詰まり、径1～1.5センチメートル。環は6、7層で灰褐毛を密生する。堅果は翌年の10月に熟す。宮城県以西の本州から、沖縄、台湾まで分布する。

［萩原信介　2020年1月21日］

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