The genus Castanopsis contains about 100 species growing in North America [1] and tropical and subtropical Asia [99]. The term castanopsis means resembling Castanea, a chestnut and related genus, while chrysophylla means golden leaf, referring to the golden yellow scales on the underside of leaves.
Other Common Names: chestnut, chinkapin, chinquapin, evergreen chestnut, evergreen chinkapin, giant chinkapin, giant evergreen chinkapin, golden chinkapin, golden chinquapin, goldenleaf chestnut, goldenleaf chinkapin, western chinquapin.
Distribution: Pacific coast region from southwest Washington south to western Oregon, and in coastal ranges and Sierra Nevada to central California.
The Tree: The giant chinkapin attains a height of over 100 ft (30 m) and a diameter of 4 ft (1.2 m). The bark is a dark red–brown, with deep fissures. The trees grow in mountain slopes and ravines between 3,000 (914 m) and 6,000 ft (1,829 m). They occur individually among the coastal redwood forests and in large stands in association with juniper and oaks. Giant chinkapin is a slow-growing species, living to more than 400 years. When the trees flower in late spring, they are covered in white blossoms that emit a strong odor. It is a masting species, producing large crops of nuts in a cyclical manner, after several years of low nut production.
General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of giant chinkapin is narrow and light brown and is not distinguishable from the heartwood, except the latter can be tinged or striped with pink. It is fine grained, soft and brittle, with no characteristic odor or taste.
Weighta
Weight
Moisture Specific lb/ft3 kg/m3
content gravity
Green 0.42 61 977
12% 0.46 32 513
Ovendry 0.48 NA NA
aReference (59).
Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green Dry
MOE 1.02 106 7.033 GPa 1.24 106 8.550 GPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
MOR 7.00 103 48.265 MPa 10.7 103 73.777 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C| | 2.03 103 13.997 MPa 4.15 103 28.614 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
C 0.49 103 3.379 MPa 0.68 103 4.689 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
WML 9.5 65.503 kJ/m3 9.5 in-lbf/in3 65.503
in-lbf/in3 kJ/m3
Hardness 600 lbf 2668.80 N 730 lbf 3247.04 N
Shear| | 1.01 lbf/in2 6.964 MPa 1.26 103 8.687 MPa
lbf/in2
aReference (59).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
shrinkage
Tangential 7.4 NA NA
Radial 4.6 NA NA
Volumetric 13.2 NA NA
aReference (59).
Working Properties: Not available at this time.
Durability: Not available at this time.
Preservation: Not available at this time.
Uses: Paneling, tool handles, furniture, novelties, fuel wood.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.