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Woody > Castanea > Castanea dentata > Castanea dentata

Castanea dentata


American Chestnut




            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

"

A very rare tree once a large tree now most remnants are stump sprouts in forests.



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

"

Family
Fagaceae
Genus
Castanea
Species
dentata
Category
Woody
Type
Tree (deciduous)
Pronunciation
Height
5 - 30 m
Spread
3 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
July
General Description
A very fast growing deciduous hardwood tree, however chestnut blight has become obsolete to this species.
Shape
Large rounded canopy.
Growth
Fast
ID Characteristic
Fruit a large bur, dense and spiny, the chestnut is edible. Long white catkins during flowering.
Pests
Chestnut blight, caused by an Asian bark fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) which is an airborne fungus spreading and killing millions of chestnut trees.
Habitat
Forests in the Carolinian zone, including rare occurrences in Southern Ontario, Canada.
Bark/Stem Description
Young bark is smooth and dark brown, mature bark has flat-topped ridges.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Ovoid, 5 – 10 mm in length, greenish-brown in colour, with a couple hairless scales, and many vein scars.
Leaf Description
15 to 30 cm long, alternate, simple. Gradually tapering to both ends. Straight veins with large bristle-tipped teeth.
Flower Description
Pollen flowers and seed flowers found on the same tree. Flowers appear in great masses of white coloured catkins on the larger trees.
Fruit Description
Edible nut, found in small clusters surrounded by a spiny bur like husk. Each nut ovoid is brownish, smooth and flat on one side, wrapped in tan velvet.
Colour Description
Yellowish-green.
Texture Description
Medium.
Notable Specimens
Skunks Misery, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.
References
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