Sweet Chestnut (Castanea Sativa)

Castanea sativa or sweet chestnut, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fagaceae.A substantial, long-lived deciduous tree, it produces an edible seed, the chestnut, which has been used in cooking since ancient times.

 

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Family: Fagaceae

Genus: Castanea

Species: C. sativa

Distribution: Southern Europe & Asia

Height: 20–35 m (66–115 ft)

 

The flowers of both sexes are borne in 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, upright catkins, the male flowers in the upper part and female flowers in the lower part. In the northern hemisphere, they appear in late June to July, and by autumn, the female flowers develop into spiny cupules containing 3-7 brownish nuts that are shed during October. The female flowers eventually form a spiky sheath that deters predators from the seed. The sweet chestnut is self incompatible, meaning that the plant can’t pollinate itself, making cross-pollination necessary.Some cultivars only produce one large nut per cupule, while others produce up to three nuts.Sweet chestnut is sensitive to late spring and early autumn frosts. Under forest conditions, it will tolerate moderate shade well. It can live to more than 2,000 years.

 

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