 Kingdom: Plante  Division: Magnoliophyta  Class: Magnoliopisda  Order: Fagales  Family: Fagaceae  Genus: Castanea dentate (Marsh.) Borkh.  Species: Chestnut

~The Chestnut can grow to be 100 feet tall ~The form is relatively symmetrical and has an abstract round shape to it Figure 1

~The Chestnut has bark possessing broad, flat, irregular ridges ~The color for most Chestnuts is light brown color, but in dense forests the color is lighter due to lack of sunlight on the lower bark. Figure 2

~The twig of a Chestnut can be orange-brown in color, and is has a hairless texture. ~The twigs resemble a kernel of wheat and grow just off center of leaf scars ~The buds of a Chestnut are almost the same color as the tree’s twig. ~They grow all along the twig and in clusters at the tip Figure 3

~Chestnut leaves are short-stemmed, veined, oblong and have course to fine pointed teeth or bristles. ~The leaves alternate and are simple Figure 4

~The flowers are most commonly white or yellow-green ~Appear in late spring to early summer ~The Chestnut produces dark brown fruits sharp spines along the outside Figure 6 Figure 5

~The Chestnut grows in the Eastern United States and throughout the Appalachian Mountains ~It grows at a slow rate, taking long periods of time to reach it’s full height ~Differing from the other trees in the beech family in that they do no grow as frequently along the eastern coast Figure 7

 The Chestnut is used for making furniture, interior fishing, and fuel  The fruits are also edible and in some areas considered delicacies

Dave’s Garden. Date Retrieved: 6/24/ Chattooga Conservancy. Date Retrieved: 6/24/ VirginiaTech. Date Retrieved: 6/24/ Chestnut anyone?. Date Retrieved: 6/24/ The American Chestnut Foundation. Date Retrieved: 6/24/ Forest Trees of Illinois by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Forest Recourses. Page 96. Date Retrieved: 6/24/2010

Figure 1: Chestnut shape Figure 2: Chestnut bark Figure 3: Chestnut twig and buds Figure 4: Chestnut leaf Figure 5: Chestnut flower Figure 6: Chestnut fruit Figure 7: Chestnut range