Quercus acuta

Quercus acuta, the Japanese evergreen oak, is an oak native to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China's Guizhou Province and Guangdong Province.[3]

Japanese evergreen oak
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
Genus: Quercus
Subgenus: Quercus subg. Cyclobalanopsis
Species:
Q. acuta
Binomial name
Quercus acuta
Synonyms[2]

Description

Due to its foliage and habitat, it looks rather unlike most other oaks. Quercus acuta is usually bushy and densely domed, reaching a height of 14 meters. The bark is smooth and dark grey. Leaves are dark and glossy above and yellowish beneath. They narrow to a long, finely-rounded tip. The flowers are on a stiff 5 cm catkin.

Heartwood is pale reddish brown to reddish brown. Sapwood is pale yellowish brown with a slightly reddish color.[4]

Common names

In Japan, it is called akagashi (赤樫 - あかがし), but is also known by the names oogashi (大樫 - オオガシ) and oobagashi (大葉樫 - オオバガシ).[5] [6]

In the Korean language, it is 붉가시.

Uses

Like shirakashi (白樫 - しらかし) (Quercus myrsinifolia), whose wood is often called shirokashi outside of Japan, and other related sub-genera, Japanese Evergreen Oak, or akagashi, is a preferred choice for Japanese martial arts practice weapons such as bokken.[7][8] This is due to its uniformly tight grain structure resulting from its continuous growing season. It should not be confused with the oriental or Asian white oak, Quercus aliena.

References
  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2018). "Quercus acuta". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 208. e.T62005627A13677623. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T62005627A136776235.en.
  2. The Plant List, Quercus acuta Thunb.
  3. "Quercus acuta"Oaks of the World Accessed 8 April 2011.
  4. 木材図鑑 - Picture Book of Woods Accessed 22 March 2017. (in Japanese)
  5. TSUYUZAKI Shiro's Plant List - Hokkaido University
  6. 植物和名ー学名インデックス YList - The YList Botanical Name - Scientific Name Index Accessed 22 March 2017. (in Japanese)
  7. Zaimoku - Wood for Weapons Accessed 22 March 2017.
  8. James Goedkoop: "Woods for Training Weapons". Aikiweb Accessed 10 November 2012.


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