Ostryopsis

Ostryopsis
Ostryopsis davidiana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Betulaceae
Genus: Ostryopsis
Decne.

Ostryopsis is a small genus of deciduous shrubs belonging to the birch family Betulaceae. The species have no common English name, though Hazel-hornbeam has been suggested, reflecting their similarities to the closely related Hazels and Hop-hornbeams.

The genus is native to China.[1] They are shrubs reaching 3-5 m tall, with alternate, double-toothed hazel-like leaves 2-7 cm long. The flowers are produced in spring, with separate male and female catkins. The fruit form in clusters 3-5 cm long with 6-10 seeds; each seed is a small nut 4-6 mm long, fully enclosed in a sheath-like involucre.[2]

The local people in Northeast China has found hazelnuts of Ostryopsis davidiana and Corylus mandshurica are more delicious than that of Common Hazels and Asian Hazels, and the cuisine "stir-fried huozhenzi" (火榛子) are popular. However, their hazelnuts are far more expensive than common and Asian hazelnuts.

Species[1]
  1. Ostryopsis davidiana Decne. - widespread from Sichuan to Liaoning
  2. Ostryopsis intermedia B.Tian & J.Q.Liu - Yunnan
  3. Ostryopsis nobilis Balf.f. & W.W.Sm. - Sichuan, Yunnan

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Ostryopsis
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