View source for Sweet Chestnut

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Sweet Chestnut
| image = Chestnuts.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Sweet Chestnut fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Fagaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Chestnut|Castanea]]''
| species = '''''C. sativa'''''
| binomial = ''Castanea sativa''
| binomial_authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]]
}}

The '''Sweet Chestnut''' (''Castanea sativa'', family [[Fagaceae]]), also known as the Spanish Chestnut, is a species of [[chestnut]] native to southeastern [[Europe]] and [[Asia Minor]]. It is a medium-sized to large [[deciduous]] [[tree]] attaining a height of 20-35 m with a trunk often 2 m in diameter. The oblong-lanceolate, boldly toothed [[leaf|leaves]] are 16-28 cm long and 5-9 cm broad. 

The [[flower]]s of both sexes are borne in 10-20 cm long, upright [[catkin|catkins]], the male flowers in the upper part and female flowers in the lower part. They appear in late June to July, and by autumn, the female flowers develop into spiny [[cupule]]s containing 3-7 brownish [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] that are shed during October. 

The bark often has a net-shaped (retiform) pattern with deep furrows or fissures running spirally in both directions up the trunk.

The tree requires a mild climate and adequate moisture for good growth and a good nut harvest. It is sensitive to late spring and early autumn frosts, and is intolerant of lime. Under forest conditions it will tolerate moderate shade well.

[[Image:Chestnut03.jpg|thumb|left|Sweet Chestnut on forest floor]]

==Uses==
Sweet Chestnut is widely cultivated for its edible nuts. As early as [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times it was introduced into more northerly regions, and later it was cultivated in monastery gardens by monks. Today, centuries-old specimens may be found in [[Great Britain]] and the whole of central and western [[Europe]]. The nuts are used by confectioners and are also eaten roasted. They are popular in [[France]], [[Portugal]], [[Italy]] and particularly in [[Corsica]]. They may be roasted whole or ground to make [[flour]]. The Corsican variety of [[polenta]] (called pulenta) is made with sweet chestnut flour. A local variety of Corsican beer also uses chesnuts.

The durable wood is used to make furniture, barrels (sometimes used to age [[balsamic vinegar]]), fencing and roof beams in houses of the Alpujarra, Spain; due to its tendency to split and warp badly, it is not used in large pieces. The [[bark]] also provides [[tannin]].

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Chataigne.jpg
Image:Chestnuts02.jpg
Image:Chestnuts on tree.jpg
Image:Castanea-sativa.JPG|Sweet Chestnut tree
Image:Esskastanie_fg01.jpg|Middle Rhine Valley, Germany
Image:Sweet chestnut DSCF0160.JPG|Retiform bark
Image:Ancient coppice of a sweet chestnut DSCF0322.JPG|Ancient Sweet Chestnut coppice, Banstead Woods, Surrey, UK
Image:Illustration Castanea sativa0.jpg|Sweet Chestnut, from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'', 1885
</gallery>

==References==
{{Commons|Castanea sativa}}
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Castanea&SPECIES_XREF=sativa&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Castanea sativa'']
*Rushforth, K. (1999). ''Trees of Britain and Europe''. HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.

[[Category:Fagaceae|Chestnut, Sweet]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]