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| Chrysolepis sempervirens | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Fagaceae |
| Genus: | Chrysolepis |
| Species: | C. sempervirens
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| Binomial name | |
| Chrysolepis sempervirens (Kell.) Hjelmqv
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| Natural range of Chrysolepis sempervirens, estimated with iNaturalist Geomodel | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Chrysolepis sempervirens is a species of mountain shrub in the oak family known by the common names bush chinkapin, bush golden chinquapin, or Sierra evergreen chinquapin.[2][3][4] It is native to the western United States, where it grows on rocky slopes and chaparral throughout the San Gabriel, San Jacinto, Sierra Nevada, Cascade, and Klamath Ranges of California and Southern Oregon.[3][5]
Description
[edit]Chrysolepis sempervirens grows as a shrub, typically shorter than 3 meters high.[5] The bark is gray or brown in color and smooth.[4] In July and August, the shrub produces a green catkin, or spike-like inflorescence, which fruits as a yellowish bur, 20-60 mm thick, densely spiny, and containing one to three light brown nuts.[4][5] The abaxial side of the young leaf is golden, while the adaxial side is green,[5] and the evergreen leaves remain on the plant throughout the year.[6] Rounded leaf tips distinguish C. sempervirens from C. chrysophylla, the only other species in this genus, which grows in more coastal habitats.[7] There are no subspecies or varieties of C. sempervirens.[3]
Ecology
[edit]Chrysolepis sempervirens is generally more shade-tolerant than C. chrysophylla, and can therefore grow in the lower strata of coniferous forests.[3] The shrub is pollinated by the wind,[8] and its fruit ripens in the second year of development.[9] The nuts are a good source of food for birds and rodents, which help to further disseminate the seeds.[9]
Uses
[edit]The nuts are edible, though small, and tastes similar to hazelnut. Indigenous peoples of California gathered and roasted them as a food source.[10] Today the species is occasionally grown as an ornamental shrub in native plant gardens, valued for its dense form, attractive foliage, and adaptation to dry, rocky sites.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Chrysolepis sempervirens Kellogg". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 26 September 2025 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ "chinquapin". Encyclopædia Britannica (Online ed.). Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ISSN 1085-9721.
- ^ a b c d Howard, Janet L. (1992). "Chrysolepis sempervirens. In: Fire Effects Information System". U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c Chrysolepis sempervirens. Flora of North America.
- ^ a b c d Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Chrysolepis sempervirens". Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley.
- ^ a b "Bush Chinquapin". Calscape. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ Jepson Flora Project (ed.). "Key to Chrysolepis". Jepson eFlora. The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley.
- ^ McKell, Cyrus (2012). The biology and utilization of shrubs. Elsevier.
- ^ a b Conrad, C Eugene (1987). Common shrubs of chaparral and associated ecosystems of southern California. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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