The Probert Encyclopaedia of Nature

CHESTNUT

The chestnut (popularly known as the sweet chestnut) is a genus of plants, of the order Cupuliferae, allied to the beech. The common or Spanish chestnut (Castanea vesca) is a stately tree, with large, handsome, serrated, dark-green leaves. The fruit consists of two or more seeds enveloped in a prickly husk. Probably a native of Asia Minor, it has long been naturalized in Europe, and was perhaps introduced into Britain by the Romans - some sources suggest it may be indigenous. The tree grows freely in Britain, and may reach the age of many centuries. The timber of the tree was formerly more in use than it is now; it is inferior to that of the oak, though very similar to it in appearance, especially when old. Two American species of chestnuts, Chestnut americana and Chestnut pumila (the latter a shrub), have edible fruits. The former is often regarded as identical with the European tree. The name of Cape Chestnut is given to a beautiful tree of the rue family, a native of South Africa. The Moreton Bay Chestnut is a leguminous tree of Australia, Castanospe-mum australe, with fruits resembling those of the chestnut. The water-chestnut is the water-caltrop, Trapa natans. The horse chestnut is quite a different tree from the common or sweet chestnut.
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