Excerpts from Jim Conrad's
Naturalist Newsletter

Bush Chinkapin, CHRYSOLEPIS SEMPERVIRENS

from the the August 16, 2009 Newsletter, reporting on a visit to Rogue River National Forest in southwestern  Oregon:
BUSH CHINKAPIN

Last week I introduced you to the Golden Chinkapin, Chrysolepis chrysophylla, whose spiky fruits are shown at http://www.backyardnature.net/n/w/goldchnk.htm.

Along the Upper Rogue River Trail the Bush Chinkapin, CHRYSOLEPIS SEMPERVIRENS was fruiting, as shown above.

While Golden Chinkapins grow into large trees, the Bush Chinkapin in that picture, despite being loaded with burry fruits, was no more than a foot tall. Rarely the species can grow to seven feet. It was fairly common in the forest understory on rocky outcrops along the Rogue.

Bush Chinkapins occur naturally only in southwestern Oregon, California and extreme western Nevada.