Quercus ferox Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., ed. 1832, 3: 639. 1832; C. tribuloides (Smith) A. de Candolle var. ferox King ex J. D. Hooker.

Trees 10-20 m tall. Branches glabrous. Petiole 0.8-1.2 cm; leaf blade lanceolate, oblong, or rarely ovate, 8-16 × 2-5 cm, leathery, abaxially with a grayish tight layer of scalelike trichomes, rarely concolorous, base broadly cuneate to cuneate, inaequilateral or symmetric, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate; midvein at least from base to middle adaxially slightly raised or from middle to apex flat to slightly impressed; secondary veins 9-14 on each side of midvein. Rachis of inflorescences tomentulose. Female inflorescence ca. 20 cm. Perianth puberulent. Infructescence rachis glabrous. Cupule globose to rarely broadly ovoid, 2-2.8 cm in diam., outside and bracts brown to grayish brown pubescent and with waxy scalelike trichomes, wall to 1 mm thick; bracts spinelike, 4-8 mm, base connate into bundles or united to discontinuous rings. Nut subglobose, 0.8-1.2 × 0.9-1.2 cm, glabrous, apex pointed; scar basal, 8-10 mm in diam. Fl. Aug-Oct, fr. Sep-Nov of following year.

Broad-leaved evergreen forests; 700-2000 m. SE Xizang, S to SW Yunnan [Bangladesh, NE India, Laos, Myanmar, Sikkim, N Thailand, Vietnam]