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Chrysolepis chrysophylla

(Dougl. ex Hook.) Hjelmqvist

Golden Chinquapin

G5Secure Found in 91 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133079
Element CodePDFAG02010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderFagales
FamilyFagaceae
GenusChrysolepis
Synonyms
Castanea chrysophyllaDouglas ex Hook.Castanopsis chrysophylla(Dougl. ex Hook.) A. DC.
Other Common Names
Giant Chinquapin (EN) giant chinquapin (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1997) and Kartesz (1999) recognize two varieties of Chrysolepis chrysophylla: Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla and Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. minor. In contrast, Kartesz (1994) did not distinguish infra taxa, recognizing Castanopsis chrysophylla, with Castanopsis chrysophylla var. minor included in synonymy.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-25
Change Date1994-02-08
Edition Date2024-06-25
Edition AuthorsN. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Chrysolepis chrysophylla is a long-lived tree or shrub occurring in chaparral, mixed evergreen, conifer, redwood, and closed pine forests of western North America from Washington south to California, United States. With a large range extent, more than 1,000 occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Chrysolepis chrysophylla occurs in western North America from Washington south to California in the United States (FNA 1997). Range extent was estimated to be 256,565 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024). See individual entries for distribution details about the two varieties.
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 1,000 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Chrysolepis chrysophylla is potentially threatened by development, invasive species, fire, and other threats in some places. This species is generally not severely impacted by pests and diseases, but it is most susceptible to heart-rotting fungi, such as Phellinus igniarius (Meyer 2012). However, the overall impact of these threats is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Chrysolepis chrysophylla occurs in mixed evergreen forests, closed cone pine forests, conifer forests,redwood forests, and chaparral on rocky or gravelly slopes at elevations ranging from 0 to 2,000 meters (FNA 1997).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest - MixedShrubland/chaparral
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (91)
California (30)
AreaForestAcres
Bell QuinbyShasta-Trinity National Forest11,556
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
BoulderKlamath National Forest435
Box CampKlamath National Forest858
ChinquapinShasta-Trinity National Forest22,040
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
EagleShasta-Trinity National Forest6,553
GriderKlamath National Forest10,647
Indian CreekKlamath National Forest5,011
JohnsonKlamath National Forest10,652
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
ShacklefordKlamath National Forest1,679
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
Ukonom CreekKlamath National Forest4,621
UnderwoodSix Rivers National Forest6,591
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
Oregon (57)
AreaForestAcres
Badger CreekMt. Hood National Forest847
Brown Mt.Winema National Forest3,117
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Bulldog RockUmpqua National Forest6,056
Bulldog RockWillamette National Forest559
Castle Rock AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,649
Chucksney MountainWillamette National Forest15,369
CornpatchWillamette National Forest7,346
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
DoneganUmpqua National Forest5,914
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
ElkhornWillamette National Forest9,380
FairviewUmpqua National Forest7,417
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
Gold CreekWillamette National Forest1,364
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Hardesty MountainWillamette National Forest3,754
Jackson Creek AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,673
LakeMt. Hood National Forest1,327
LarchMt. Hood National Forest12,961
LastUmpqua National Forest7,666
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
MarshWinema National Forest1,226
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Metolius BreaksDeschutes National Forest11,141
Middle SantiamWillamette National Forest7,316
Moose LakeWillamette National Forest5,013
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. HagenWillamette National Forest6,406
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Mt. ThielsenWinema National Forest1,153
N. BoundaryWinema National Forest769
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
OlallieMt. Hood National Forest7,607
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Rainbow FallsWillamette National Forest65
Roaring RiverWillamette National Forest2,128
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Skimmerhorn AppendageUmpqua National Forest1,820
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
Sky Lakes BWinema National Forest9,615
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
W. BoundaryWinema National Forest2,345
WaldoDeschutes National Forest4,973
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
Waldo - LakeWillamette National Forest2,993
Waldo - MoolackWillamette National Forest1,183
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
Washington (4)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
References (9)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1997. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 3. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiii + 590 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  6. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  7. Meyer, Rachelle. 2012. <i>Chrysolepis chrysophylla</i>. Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/chrchr/all.html (accessed 2024).
  8. Nixon, K. 2020. Flora of North America: <i>Chrysolepis chrysophylla</i> var.<i> chrysophylla</i>. Accessed: September 12, 2022. http://floranorthamerica.org/Chrysolepis_chrysophylla_var._chrysophylla
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).