(Castanea and opsis, chestnut-like) Fagdceae. Ornamental trees or shrubs sometimes cultivated for their handsome evergreen foliage.

Closely allied to Castanea, but pistillate flowers usually on separate catkins, sometimes solitary; ovary 3-celled. fruit ripening the second year: involucre sometimes tuberculate; winter-buds with many scales; terminal bud present: leaves evergreen, entire or dentate. - About 25 species, chiefly in the tropical and subtropical mountains of Asia, and 1 in W. N. Amer., which is the hardiest, and is sometimes cultivated; also several Chinese species have been recently introduced into cultivation, but their names have not yet been determined. For propogation see Castanea.

Chrysophylla

DC. (Castanea chrysophylla, Hook.). Fig. 836 (adapted from Pacific R. R. Rep.). Tree, to 150 ft., shrubby at high elevations: leaves ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, narrowed at both ends, entire, dark green above, coated with minute golden yellow scales beneath, 2-6 in. long: nut about 1/2 in wide, usually solitary in the spiny involucre. Summer. Ore. to Calif. S.S.9:439. B.M.4953. G.C.III.22:411; 36:145. Gn. 76, p. 634. F.S. 12:1184. R.B. 7:240. - A highly ornamental tree with beautiful foliage, hardy only in the warmer temperate regions, but the shrubby form is much hardier. Alfred Rehder.

Fig. 836. Castanopsis chrysophylla. ( X 3/4)