A 2012 Laboratory Analysis of the Ozark chinquapin revealed that in comparison to other forest mast species, it is the most nutritious nut in the forest and usually consistent in production year to year.
Sources -Bost SGS Laboratory, 2012 -Data from Bonner (1971, 1974a) -Fulbright, Michigan State Univ. 2012
The nutrient value makes the nut crop of the trees an incredibly valuable food source. Bringing the tree back from the brink of extinction would create a more diverse ecology in our forests, which in turn encourages and supports healthy wildlife populations.