Chestnut - Revision history

Silparaja at 14:15, 16 July 2009

2009-07-16T14:15:36Z

Silparaja at 14:13, 16 July 2009

2009-07-16T14:13:53Z

Raffi at 18:58, 30 June 2009

2009-06-30T18:58:27Z

Show changes

Silparaja at 07:24, 30 June 2009

2009-06-30T07:24:21Z

Silparaja at 07:23, 30 June 2009

2009-06-30T07:23:42Z

Show changes

219.138.204.162 at 14:05, 26 September 2007

2007-09-26T14:05:08Z

Raffi at 06:58, 27 March 2007

2007-03-27T06:58:08Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Chestnut
| image = Chestnuts on tree.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Sweet Chestnut
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fagales]]
| familia = [[Fagaceae]]
| genus = '''''Castanea'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''Castanea alnifolia'' - [[Bush Chinkapin]]* 
''Castanea crenata'' - [[Japanese Chestnut]] 
''Castanea dentata'' - [[American Chestnut]] 
''Castanea henryi'' - [[Henry's Chestnut]] 
''Castanea mollissima'' - [[Chinese Chestnut]] 
''Castanea ozarkensis'' - [[Ozark Chinkapin]] 
''Castanea pumila'' - [[Allegheny Chinkapin]] 
''Castanea sativa'' - [[Sweet Chestnut]] 
''Castanea seguinii'' - [[Seguin's Chestnut]] 
<nowiki>*</nowiki> treated as a synonym of ''C. pumila'' by many authors
}}

'''Chestnut''' (''Castanea''), including the '''chinkapin''', is a genus of eight or nine species of [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s in the [[beech]] family [[Fagaceae]], native to warm temperate regions of the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The name also refers to the edible [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] produced by these trees. Most are large trees to 20-40 m tall, but some species (the chinkapins) are smaller, often [[shrub]]by. All are flowering broadleafs with catkins.

The [[leaf|leaves]] of the American and European chestnut are simple, [[ovate]] or [[lanceolate]], 10-30 cm long and 4-10 cm broad, with sharply pointed, widely-spaced teeth, with shallow rounded sinuses between. The [[flower]]s are [[catkin]]s, produced in mid summer; they have a heavy, unpleasant odour (Bean 1970). The [[fruit]] is a spiny [[cupule]] 5-11 cm diameter, containing one to seven [[nut (fruit)|nuts]]. Chestnut trees thrive on acidic soils, such as soils derived from [[granite]] or [[schist]], and do not grow well on alkaline soils such as [[limestone]]. When wanting to grow chestnut trees on such soils, the practice was to graft them onto [[oak]] rootstocks.

Neither the [[Common Horse-chestnut|horse chestnut]] (family [[Sapindaceae]]) nor the [[Eleocharis dulcis|water chestnut]] (family [[Cyperaceae]]) is closely related to the chestnut, though both are so named for producing similar nuts. The name ''Castanea'' comes from an old Latin name for the sweet chestnut.

==Chinkapin==
The closely related golden chinkapin (''Castanopsis chrysophylla''), is a small broadleaf evergreen tree native to middle-elevation mountain areas of Northern [[California]] and the [[Pacific Northwest]]. The tree grows in small, [[clonal cluster]]s. Nuts are similar to chestnuts but much smaller and almost always [rot]ten. The [[wood]] is also similar to chestnut but like the nuts, has an extreme tendency to rot.

==Diseases==
The [[American Chestnut]], formerly one of the dominant trees of the eastern [[United States]], has been almost wiped out by a [[fungus|fungal]] disease, [[chestnut blight]], ''Cryphonectria parasitica''. The American chinkapins are also very susceptible to chestnut blight. The [[Europe]]an and west [[Asia]]n [[Sweet Chestnut]] is susceptible, but less so than the American, and the east Asian species are resistant. These resistant species, particularly [[Japanese Chestnut]] and [[Chinese Chestnut]] but also [[Seguin's Chestnut]] and [[Henry's Chestnut]], have been used in breeding programs in the US to create [[hybrid]]s with the American Chestnut that are also disease resistant.

''Castanea'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species; see [[list of Lepidoptera which feed on Castanea]].

==Uses==
;Nuts
[[Image:Kestaneci chestnut vendor.jpg|left|thumb|A kestaneci or chestnut vendor in [[Istanbul]]]]
The [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] are an important food crop in southern Europe, southwestern and eastern [[Asia]], and also in eastern North America before the [[chestnut blight]].
In southern Europe in the [[Middle Ages]], whole forest-dwelling communities which had scarce access to [[wheat]] flour relied on chestnuts as their main source of carbohydrates.

The nuts can be eaten candied, boiled or roasted; the former are often sold under the [[French language|French]] name ''marrons glacés''. One easy method for roasting is to cut a slit in the top of each nut and heat in a shallow container, tossing occasionally, at 400 °F for 10-15 minutes. The nuts must be slit as they tend to explode when roasted. They may also be pan-roasted or boiled.

Another important use of chestnuts is to be ground into [[flour]], which can then be used to prepare [[bread]], [[cake]]s and [[pasta]].

Chestnut-based recipes and preparations are making a comeback in [[Italian cuisine]], as part of the trend toward rediscovery of traditional dishes.

To preserve chestnuts to eat through the winter, they must be made perfectly dry after they come out of their green husk; then put into a box or a barrel mixed with, and covered over by, fine and dry sand, three parts of sand to one part of chestnuts. Any [[maggot]]s in any of the chestnuts will emerge and work up through the sand to get to the air without damaging other chestnuts. Chestnuts to be grown in the spring need to be kept in moist sand and chilled over the winter.

Chestnuts should not be confused with [[Common Horse-chestnut|Horse-chestnut]]s, which are used in the [[United Kingdom]] to play a game called [[conkers]]. Conkers, or Horse-chestnuts, are poisonous and are obtained from the tree of the same name.

;Other products
The [[wood]] is similar to [[oak]] wood in being decorative and very durable. Due to disease, American Chestnut wood has almost disappeared from the market. It is difficult to obtain large size timber from the Sweet Chestnut, due to the high degree of splitting and warping when it dries. The wood of the Sweet Chestnut is most used in small items where durability is important, such as fencing and wooden outdoor cladding ('shingles') for buildings. In Italy, it is also used to make barrels used for aging [[balsamic vinegar]].

The [[bark]] was also a useful source of natural [[tannin]]s, used for tanning [[leather]] before the introduction of synthetic tannins.

==In popular culture==
*A reference to the chestnut tree was made in the movie "Howards End" directed by James Ivory and based on the novel by E.M.Forster, where Mrs. Ruth Wilcox (played by Vanessa Redgrave) converses with Ms. Margaret Schlegel (played by Emma Thompson) about her (Ms. Wilcox's)childhood home in "Howards End", where superstitious farmers would place pig teeth in the bark of the chest nut trees and then they would chew on the bark to ease the discomfort and pain derived from tooth aches.

==References==
{{commons|Castanea}}
*Bean, W. J. (1970). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'', 8th ed., revised. John Murray, London.
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105816 Flora of North America:''Castanea'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=105816 Flora of China:''Castanea'']

<gallery>
Image:Chestnut.jpg|Ripe Sweet Chestnuts
Image:Chestnuts.jpg|Chestnuts inside their spiky capsule
Image:Chestnut03.jpg|Chestnuts can be found on the ground around trees
Image:Chestnut tree.jpg|A Sweet Chestnut tree
Image:Chestnut tree02.jpg|A Sweet Chestnut tree
Image:Chestnut flowers.jpg|Sweet Chestnut male catkins (pale buff) and female catkins (green, spiny, partly hidden by leaves)
Image:Young chestnuts.jpg|Young chestnuts
</gallery>

[[Category:Fagaceae]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 Japanese Group.—Though most of the imported Japanese chestnuts have been found of poor quality for eating in the fresh state, the product of many imported seedling trees, and of a number of American-grown seedlings of this type, is equal to the European nut in this respect. The Japanese varieties in general have the advantage, also, of greater precocity and productiveness, larger size and earlier maturity of nut, greater freedom from injury.by leaf diseases and nut-eating insect larvae. As productiveness and earliness are the most important points in chestnut-culture at the present time, this type is the most important to commercial nut-growers. Because of the ease with which chestnuts hybridize, the disease-resistance of varieties that have originated from seed produced within the habitat of the American chestnut must be regarded as doubtful until thoroughly tested. Information as to the place of production of the seed from which the several varieties originated is therefore of importance in selecting varieties for planting. The more important named varieties are as follows:
 Alpha.— New Jersey. Bur medium; nuts medium to large, generally three in a bur, dark, of fair quality, ripening very early. Tree upright, very vigorous and productive. Originated in New Jersey from seed of Parry.
 Beta.—New Jersey. Bur small; nut medium, light brown, smooth, slightly tomentose at tip, good; ripening just after Alpha. Seedling of Parry.
 Biddle.—New Jersey. First fruited in Maryland. Bur medium: nut large, bright brown, broad, rather thickly tomentose, two to five in a bur; of medium season and fair quality. Tree regular, round-headed, vigorous. Grown from imported seed.
 Black (syn.. Dr. Black).—New Jersey. First fruited in Maryland. Bur large; nut medium to large; three to seven in a bur, consequently irregular in shape; dark brown, slightly tomentose, very early and of good quality. Tree round, close-headed, vigorous, productive. Grown from imported seed.
 Boone.—Villa Ridge, Ill. Fig. 917. A hybrid between Giant and a native chestnut. Bur of medium size; nuts large, usually three in a bur; of light brown color, rather heavily tomentose; quality very good. Tree vigorous, precocious and productive, nuts ripening early. Considered difficult to propagate.
 Coe.—California. A large, very sweet variety, but recently disseminated. Tree upright, somewhat spreading. Grown from imported seed.
 Fellon.—New Jersey. First fruited in Delaware. Bur small; nut medium, dark brown, slightly tomentose, rather early and of excellent quality. Tree round-headed and fairly productive. Grown from seed of an imported tree.
 Giant.—Japan. A trade name, under which a number of varieties have been imported from Japan. See Parry.
 Hale (syn.. Eighteen Months).—California. A newly introduced variety, having a large, dark brown nut of excellent quality. Very precocious. Grown from imported seed.
 Kent (syn.. Extra Early).—New Jersey. First fruited in Delaware. Bur small, nut medium to large, dark, usually three in a bur; very early, of good quality. Tree round-headed, precocious, productive. Grown from seed of an imported tree.
 Kerr.—New Jersey. First fruited in Maryland. Bur small; nut medium to large, dark brown, broad, three in a bur, early, and of excellent quality. Tree vigorous, symmetrical, round-headed, very productive. Grown from imported seed.
 Killen.—New Jersey. First fruited in Delaware. Bur very large; nut very large, broad, light brown, slightly ridged, of excellent quality, midseason. Tree upright, open, spreading, moderately vigorous, productive. The largest chestnut yet brought to notice. Grown from seed of an imported tree.
 Mammoth.—A trade name for the imported Japanese nuts and trees, not restricted to any particular variety.
 Martin (syn., Col. Martin).—New Jersey. First fruited in Maryland. Bur large; nut large to very large, broad, bright reddish brown, slightly tomentose, three to five nuts in a bur. Midseason; of good quality for cooking. Tree vigorous, open, spreading, productive. Grown from imported seed.
 McFarland.—California. Bur very large; nut large, and of fine quality; early. Tree spreading, very productive. A newly disseminated variety of great promise. Grown from imported seed.
 Parry.—Japan. Bur very large; nut very large, one to three in a bur, broad, with apex sometimes depressed; dark brown, ridged, of fair quality. Tree moderately vigorous, open, spreading, with large leaves. One of the largest and most beautiful of this group. Selected for propagation as the best of 1,000 imported grafted Japanese chestnuts.
 Prolific.—Japan. Bur small: nut medium, rather long, striped, three in a bur; early. Tree vigorous, compact, with small narrow leaves.
 Reliance.—New Jersey. Bur medium; nut medium to large, rather long, light brown, ridged; midseason, and of fair quality. Tree dwarfish, spreading, drooping, very precocious and productive; inclined to overbear, and needs thinning. Seedling of Parry. Tree upright, productive.
 Superb.—New Jersey. Bur very large; nut very large, usually three in a bur; midseason; of rather poor quality until cooked. Seedling of Parry.  Wm.A.Taylor.
 {{SCH}}

@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 Styer.—-Concordville. Pa. Bur medium; nut medium pointed, dark brown, striped, tomentose at tip, 1 to 3 in a bur. Tree very vigorous, upright, with large, dark green leaves; free from disease.
-Japanese Group.—Though most of the imported Japanese chestnuts have been found of poor quality for eating in the fresh state, the product of many imported seedling trees, and of a number of American-grown seedlings of this type, is equal to the European nut in this respect. The Japanese varieties in general have the advantage, also, of greater precocity and productiveness, larger size and earlier maturity of nut, greater freedom from injury.
+Japanese Group.—Though most of the imported Japanese chestnuts have been found of poor quality for eating in the fresh state, the product of many imported seedling trees, and of a number of American-grown seedlings of this type, is equal to the European nut in this respect. The Japanese varieties in general have the advantage, also, of greater precocity and productiveness, larger size and earlier maturity of nut, greater freedom from injury.by leaf diseases and nut-eating insect larvae. As productiveness and earliness are the most important points in chestnut-culture at the present time, this type is the most important to commercial nut-growers. Because of the ease with which chestnuts hybridize, the disease-resistance of varieties that have originated from seed produced within the habitat of the American chestnut must be regarded as doubtful until thoroughly tested. Information as to the place of production of the seed from which the several varieties originated is therefore of importance in selecting varieties for planting. The more important named varieties are as follows:
 {{SCH}}
 }}

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:24, 30 June 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Inc\|
	Chestnut. Three species of tree or true chestnuts are cultivated in this country for their nuts,—the European Castanea sativa, the American Castanea dentata, the Japanese Castanea crenata. See Castanea. The horticultural characters that distinguish these three types are as follows:		Chestnut. Three species of tree or true chestnuts are cultivated in this country for their nuts,—the European Castanea sativa, the American Castanea dentata, the Japanese Castanea crenata. See Castanea. The horticultural characters that distinguish these three types are as follows:
	European chestnuts.—Tree large, with a spreading but compact head, stocky, smooth-barked twigs and large glossy buds of a yellowish brown color; leaves oblong-lanceolate, abruptly pointed, with coarse sometimes incurved serrations, thick and leathery, generally pubescent beneath when young, but green on both sides when mature. Burs very large, with long branching spines, and a thick velvety lining. Nut larger than American chestnut, sometimes very large, shell dark mahogany-brown, pubescent at tip, thick, tough and leathery; kernel inclosed in a thin tough and astringent skin: quality variable from insipid, astringent to moderately sweet. The leaves remain on the trees until late in autumn, but are more susceptible to the attacks of fungi than the American and Japanese species. At least one variegated and one cut-leaved variety are grown as ornamentals. This species is variously known as European, French, Spanish and Italian chestnut (Castanea sativa), and sweet chestnut of English writers. It is an inhabitant of mountain forests in the temperate regions of western Asia, Europe and north Africa, and is esteemed for its nuts in Spain, France and Italy, where they have constituted an important article of food since an early day. Introduced to the United States by Irenee Dupont, at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1803, although recorded by Jefferson, under the designation "French chestnut," as grafted by him on native chestnut near Charlottesville (Monticello), Virginia, in 1773.		European chestnuts.—Tree large, with a spreading but compact head, stocky, smooth-barked twigs and large glossy buds of a yellowish brown color; leaves oblong-lanceolate, abruptly pointed, with coarse sometimes incurved serrations, thick and leathery, generally pubescent beneath when young, but green on both sides when mature. Burs very large, with long branching spines, and a thick velvety lining. Nut larger than American chestnut, sometimes very large, shell dark mahogany-brown, pubescent at tip, thick, tough and leathery; kernel inclosed in a thin tough and astringent skin: quality variable from insipid, astringent to moderately sweet. The leaves remain on the trees until late in autumn, but are more susceptible to the attacks of fungi than the American and Japanese species. At least one variegated and one cut-leaved variety are grown as ornamentals. This species is variously known as European, French, Spanish and Italian chestnut (Castanea sativa), and sweet chestnut of English writers. It is an inhabitant of mountain forests in the temperate regions of western Asia, Europe and north Africa, and is esteemed for its nuts in Spain, France and Italy, where they have constituted an important article of food since an early day. Introduced to the United States by Irenee Dupont, at Wilmington, Delaware, in 1803, although recorded by Jefferson, under the designation "French chestnut," as grafted by him on native chestnut near Charlottesville (Monticello), Virginia, in 1773.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Taxobox
 | color = lightgreen
@@ Line 45: / Line 46: @@
 In southern Europe in the [[Middle Ages]], whole forest-dwelling communities which had scarce access to [[wheat]] flour relied on chestnuts as their main source of carbohydrates.
-The nuts can be eaten candied, boiled or roasted; the former are often sold under the [[French language|French]] name ''marrons glacés''. One easy method for roasting is to cut a slit in the top of each nut and heat in a shallow container, tossing occasionally, at 400 °F for 10-15 minutes. The nuts must be slit as they tend to explode when roasted. They may also be pan-roasted or boiled.
+The nuts can be eaten candied, boiled or roasted; the former are often sold under the [[French language|French]] name ''marrons glacÃ©s''. One easy method for roasting is to cut a slit in the top of each nut and heat in a shallow container, tossing occasionally, at 400 Â°F for 10-15 minutes. The nuts must be slit as they tend to explode when roasted. They may also be pan-roasted or boiled.
 Another important use of chestnuts is to be ground into [[flour]], which can then be used to prepare [[bread]], [[cake]]s and [[pasta]].