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] | |
| List 
 | |
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
    
- 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.
- The Plant List, Quercus acuta Thunb.
- "Quercus acuta"Oaks of the World Accessed 8 April 2011.
- 木材図鑑 - Picture Book of Woods Accessed 22 March 2017. (in Japanese)
- TSUYUZAKI Shiro's Plant List - Hokkaido University
- 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)
- Zaimoku - Wood for Weapons Accessed 22 March 2017.
- James Goedkoop: "Woods for Training Weapons". Aikiweb Accessed 10 November 2012.
