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Wednesday, May 18, 2016

{Castanopsis Cuspidata (Japanese Chinquapin) Japanese Shii}

Around mid-April our very special tree, the evergreen Castanopsis cuspidata (Japanese Chinquapin) Japanese shii, started blooming.
You can click the pink hyperlink for information...
This photo is actually from April 26, where it is already in full bloom!
As for its name Japanese Shii, it is related to the famous Shii-take mushrooms
'Shii' is the name of the tree that usually hosts the mushroom. The tree belongs to the Birch family. 'Take' means the mushroom fruit...
Screenshot is taken from: Medical Mushrooms.net just click it.
The above information you can find: Castanopsis cuspidata (Japanese Chinquapin; Japanese shii by clicking on the hyperlink.
There is very limited information about this very special tree.
You can find more here: Castanopsis cuspidata
These are the flowers (catkins?) about mid April as they start opening up.
The tree seems to be related to beech and oak!
Looking somewhat hairy but very special!
This is on April 26, the Japanese Chinquapin is partly seen to the right of the tall 'Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno', so you have an idea where it is.
Now I'm stepping back, across the road for an overview. 
Our Golden Live Oak 'Quercus Virginiana Grand View Gold is partly seen next to the big Magnolia.
Walking back to the Japanese Chinquapin...
Again, these photos are from April 26 and the flowers start already looking dark.
Except for areas with less direct sunlight.
It is a very unusual and exotic looking tree!
Have you ever seen, or heard of this Castanopsis cuspidata, Japanese Chinquapin or Japanese shii?

Hope you enjoyed this introduction!

Thank you for your visit and time.

Related link:
{RARE Icicles in Our Garden} | showing you this Japanese Chinquapin with icicles on!
Castanopsis cuspidata (Thunb.) Schottky | Common names: Japanese tanbark oak; ita-shii (Japanese) and its Pharmaceutical interest


19 comments:

  1. Hello Mariette, What a beautiful tree! Do you get any edible nuts from your specimen? Many chinquapins have sweet nuts like small chestnuts or acorns.
    --Jim

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    1. Dearest Jim,
      We would love to see some of those small chestnuts! Hope to yield them one year...
      It is a very beautiful tree and in Taiwan it is a native in the tropical rain forest as well.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  2. Dearest MAriette,
    this tree looks wonderful ... pretty shape! But, it looks also like "Kirschlorbeer", what we have here, and I do not like this plants here, they grow so quick and big, just a bit like wheets ...
    Happy new week to you, Love and hugs and blessings too
    Claudia xo

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  3. I wouldn't have thought a tree like that would have smooth, glossy leaves so found that interesting. Of course, I would expect you to have a tree that is mushroom related. :)

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  4. Liebe Mariette,

    ich freue mich wieder über deinen schönen Post.
    Frohe Grüße
    Elisabeth

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  5. Mooi gezicht, lijkt wel of je in een park woont!

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  6. Belas e fantásticas fotografias, gosto de ver árvores em floração.
    Um abraço e continuação de uma boa semana.

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  7. Your Shii is gorgeous, Mariette! I have not really related Shii to Shii-take until now. Thank you for the info! Love the hairy blossoms - very unique and exotic indeed :-)

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  8. Ma che bella pianta, devo ricordare dove l'ho vista, qui dalle mie parti, o forse mi sbaglio. Le tue foto sono talmente belle, chiare e perfette che pari quasi di poterne toccare le foglie! Paola

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  9. Ces arbres sont majestueux ! Je me bats tous les jours contre les abattages ....
    Ils sont superbes.
    Bonne soirée Mariette

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  10. Linda e frondosa. Linda flores tem está árvore. Sua morada é linda e rodeada por um belo bosque.
    Aqui temos muitas árvores, mas tenho um trauma. Estas árvores fazem muita sujeira. Caem muitas folhas.
    Bjos
    Tenha uma ótima semana.

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  11. Dear .Mariette,

    The tree is lovely and good to see some photos of your lovely garden. Also how tall and magnificent your Magnolia tree is.
    Hope Yu are having a lovely week and thanks for always the kind visits.
    Hugs
    Carolyn

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  12. Thank you so much for visiting my blog ~ I love hearing about your outlook on health and life! You are an inspiration. My son Carl continues to do well with diet and glucose numbers, I am so proud of him. I am knee deep in a theater production working on props and backstage crew. The prop list is humongous, a challenge.

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  13. Many thanks, Dear Mariette, for your sweet comment on my fox :)
    It was quite something to achieve this kind of bond between me and a wild creature.
    Let's hope the gun crazies will come to reason and understand they don't have to kill wild animals. There are ways to protect chickens from foxes...
    I dearly hope the next owner of my place will protect her and her siblings.
    Your photos of the Japanese Chinquapin are beautiful and you taught me something about it being the host tree for the shitake mushroom, very soothing for cystitis!!
    Keep well both of you and enjoy your day :)

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  14. Me again Mariette,
    Pascale cannot publish her comment on your blog, so she asked me to publish it for her:

    Good day Mariette
    Thanks for your visit.
    Excuse me, but my English is pretty bad.
    Very nice article on this superb tree, both in large shots and close-ups.
    Have a good day
    Sorry, I can not put my comment on your space, I do not have access to the name and URL.

    Pascale
    http://www.pascale-menetrier-delalandre.com/

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  15. Fantastic and beauty tree, Mariette!. Thanks so much for the info.
    Hugs.
    María

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  16. Liebe Mariette,
    es ist immer wieder schön, wenn du uns
    Einblick in dienen wunderschönen Garten
    (eigentlich Park) gewährst.
    Einen sonnigen Mittwoch wünscht
    Irmi

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  17. You have such a beautiful property. nice healthy looking tree.

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  18. Dear Mariette,

    What a beautiful garden you have. It looks like one of those English landscape gardens I visit when in England. Love the variety you have in planting. The flowers of the Japanese tree look special. I have never seen them before.

    Wishing you and Pieter a lovely week!

    Madelief x

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...