Lithocarpus turbinatus is a Borneo endemic and one of the worlds most magnificent stone oaks.
Beaman et al (2001) lists 15 herbarium collections for Kinabalu between 1,200 to 3,000 m.
L. turbinatus is locally common in the forest surrounding Kinabalu Park HQ along the exposed ridges of the Kiau View Trail and the Bundu Tuhan View Trail.
However L. turbinatus is most easily encountered in the forest surrounding the Kinabalu summit trail up to 3,000m.
L. turbinatus is closely related to the very similar Lithocarpus beccarianus which is a lowland species, with a hard nut that is about about half the size.
These two Lithocarpus species produce similar fruits which resemble each other externally and internally.
With both species the nuts can be easily distinguished by the longitudinal ridges on the surface of the nuts which look like smooth folds or road humps. On the other species of large Lithocarpus oaks on Kinabalu e.g L. kalkmanii the longitudinal ridges are sharp not rounded.
