Quercus acuta Thunb.

Japan; Taiwan; South Korea; China (Guizhou); introduced in Europe in 1878;

reaches 10 m tall, with a trunk 30 cm in diameter, but more often shrubby in cultivation; rounded crown;

5-18 cm long, 2-6 cm wide; oval to elliptic, entire, persistent, leathery; the wavy margin is sometimes few toothed; apex acuminate; base cuneate to rounded; lustrous dark green above, paler below; 8-13 pairs of lateral veins at an angle of 40-45° with midrib; large petiole to 2-3 cm, orangish pubescent, slightly compressed.

pistillate flowers on 5 cm long stems with 3-5 flowers; male flowers with 10-12 stamens; 3-4 short styles;

elliptic orangish brown acorns to 2cm long, clustered on stalk to 4-5 cm long; narrow raised scar;  downy cup with 5-8 concentric rings of narrow, hairy scales; ripenning first year;

a little tender (hardiness zone 8); prefers a lime-free soil; rather slow growing;

– A. Camus : tome 1, p. 307, n° 5; – Sub-genus Cerris, Section Cyclobalanopsis; – Section Acuta ( Menitsky ); – Very rare in cultivation; – Hybridizes with Q.glauca = Q.x idzuensis Makino 1965;