Castanea sativa, the sweet chestnut, Spanish chestnut or just chestnut, is a species of tree in the family Fagaceae, native to Southern Europe and Asia Minor, and widely cultivated throughout the temperate world. Image of form, branch, figure - 129117383 There is also a small risk of transmission by fruits or seeds.Locally, the spores of C. parasitica are spread by wind and water, but might a… There is very little mythology surrounding the sweet chestnut in the UK, probably because it was introduced. The species is widely cultivated for its edible seeds (also called nuts) and for its wood. Sweet Chestnut Bark. A large number of micro-moths feed on the leaves and nuts. The trees begin to bear fruit when they are around 25 years old. The sugar content is also affected by the high temperatures. 79. 7 Their high level of starch is similar to that of wheat and twice as high as the potato. Discover The Sweet Chestnut Share a family meal or a quiet dinner at The Sweet Chestnut in Dunfermline. The twigs are purple-brown and buds are plum, red-brown and oval in shape. … Since the beginning of the 20th century, due to depopulation of the countryside and the abandonment of the sweet chestnut as a staple food as well as the spread of chestnut blight and ink disease, C. sativa cultivation has dramatically decreased. The Woodland Trust and Woodland Trust Nature Detectives logos are registered trademarks. The flowers provide an important source of nectar and pollen for bees and other insects, while red squirrels eat the nuts. A large number of micro-moths feed on the leaves and nuts. Credit: Yon Marsh Natural History / Alamy Stock Photo. A lovely thought, in late summer early autumn the chestnuts ripen to full size,some bursting out of the spiky cases.The chestnuts we buy in shops today are usually imported from France or … The seeds develop inside the prickly, green seed cases.Identified in winter by: the bark which has fissures that spiral upwards around the tree. wrightrkuk has uploaded 4984 photos to Flickr. It is a native of northern and central parts of Asia, from … Bark: Its bark has long diagonal fissures. Oxidative Damage. The twigs are purple-brown and buds are plum, red-brown and oval in shape. Roast chestnuts are traditionally sold in streets, markets and fairs by street vendors with mobile or static braziers. These are catkins fully developed with burs that are ready to be pollinated. The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. This Spring and Summer we have been experimenting with some of the uses of the bark from Sweet Chestnut Trees and wish to share some of our findings. [45], Sweet chestnut is suited for human nutrition. [12] Several Greek authors wrote about medicinal properties of the sweet chestnut, specifically as a remedy against lacerations of the lips and of the oesophagus. The bark often has a net-shaped (retiform) pattern with deep furrows or fissures running spirally in both directions up the trunk. Lifespan: 450 years Natural range: Mediterranean and Asia … After water treatment, the sweet chestnuts are stored in a controlled environment with high carbon dioxide concentrations. The tree is to be distinguished from the horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, to which it is only distantly related. Introduced by the Romans and a roasted winter treat. Sweet Chestnut bark seating Whilst running the intro to green woodworking course we took the time to peel the bark from the sweet chestnut logs before riving them down, with the aim of using it for weaving, principally for seating the chairs that I will be making this summer. After a year, the young trees are being transplanted.[25]. [4] In cultivation they may even grow as old as 1000 years or more. [21] Nowadays, sweet chestnut production is sometimes seen at a turning point again, because the development of high-value sweet chestnut products combined with changing needs of an urban society is leading to a revival in C. sativa cultivation. No other evidence of sweet chestnut in Roman Britain has been confirmed. Sweet chestnut is monoecious, meaning both male and female flowers are found on the same tree. It can live to more than 2,000 years of age in natural conditions, see the poetically-named "hundred-horse chestnut" in eastern Sicily for example. Sweet chestnut is found commonly throughout woods and copses in Britain. 1.5k. Sweet chestnut and specifically the chestnut tree bark are found to be a very effective remedy for Diarrhea. The Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) was probably introduced to Britain by the Romans. Uses, Benefits, Cures, Side Effects, Nutrients in Sweet Chestnut. Sweet chestnut bark is a superb material to make baskets with being both strong and flexible. Sweet Chestnut produces nuts in warm summers. Also, the capsule makes the harvest more complicated and even painful for the worker. Sweet chestnut is native to southern Europe, western Asia and north Africa. In general, the climate should be similar to viticulture. The Romans ground sweet chestnuts into a flour or coarse meal.Sweet chestnuts are a rich source of vitamins C (the only nut that is) and B, and minerals including magnesium, potassium and iron. Instead, fructose is mostly responsible for the sweet taste. Types of mushroom in the UK: common identification guide, Foraging for natural Christmas decorations, Top tips for an eco-friendly and sustainable Christmas. Credit: Wendy Johnson / Alamy Stock Photo. sativa.[29]. The leaves are completely different, with sweet chestnut having single, long, serrated leaves and horse chestnut having hand-shaped leaves with deeply divided lobes or ‘fingers’. The flowers of Sourwood can be mistaken for chestnut at a distance. It is often found in parkland as a specimen tree with a smooth grey bark and long dark green toothed leaves which contrast with the long, yellowish spring catkins. The optimal average temperature is between 8 °C and 15 °C[25] and in January the temperature should preferably not be below -1 °C[27] but it may tolerate temperatures as low as -15 °C. in Europe", "Projektstudie: Die Edelkastanie auf Obstwiesen - Eine Alternative zum Kirschanbau? [35][38] The fat content is very low and is dominated for the most part by unsaturated fatty acids. It can be used for carpentry, joinery and furniture. Sweet chestnuts are a rich source of vitamin C. The flowers provide nectar for bees and other insects. Chestnut blight canker on the stem of a sweet chestnut tree. [9][10] In North America as well as in Southern Europe Cryphonectria parasitica destroyed most of the chestnut population in the 20th century. Names of Sweet Chestnut in various languages of the world are also given. About 16–28 cm long, 5–9 cm wide and oblong with a pointed tip and a serrated or toothed edge. They can also be used in confections, puddings, desserts and cakes. ", "Technological Parameters of Water Curing Affect Postharvest Physiology and Storage of Marrons (Castanea Sativa Mill., Marrone Fiorentino)", An easy way of peeling the pellicle, or pithy skin, "Chemical composition of chestnut cultivars from Spain", "Health benefits of nuts: potential role of antioxidants", European Forest Genetic Resources Programme, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Castanea_sativa&oldid=991269411, Articles with limited geographic scope from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. A local variety of Corsican beer also uses chestnuts. [26], The sweet chestnut tree grows well on limestone-free, deeply weathered soil. The timber has a density of 560 kg per cubic meter,[55] and due to its durability in ground contact is often used for external purposes such as fencing. Note: sweet chestnut should not be confused with horse chestnut (the conker tree) whose wood is white in colour and inferior for joinery purposes. The nuts are a valuable food source for many mammals. [15] Nonetheless, until the end of the pre-Christian era, the spread and use of the chestnut in Italy remained limited. [13] Compared to other crops, the sweet chestnut was probably of relatively minor importance and distributed very heterogeneously throughout these regions. The pictures are pretty informative and there is a separate gallery of all the pictures related to this. [33][34][35] Sweet chestnut is also appreciated in a gluten-free diet. Registered office: Kempton Way, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6LL. [7] The sweet chestnut is naturallyself incompatible, meaning that the plant cannot pollinate itself, making cross-pollination necessary. Gardeners Dictionary ed. [25] Optimal precipitation is between 400 and 1600 mm. Miller. Appearance Waney edge boards of sweet chestnut will be supplied with wane (bark) on one or two edges. The remains of the male catkin stay attached to the husk until it falls off. However, according to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that flower remedies can control, cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer". Hyd-rolysis of sweet chestnut tannins leads to the formation of two important phenolic acids: gallic and ellagic acid. The bark resembles a large twisted steel cable. 301, 643 CE). The raw nuts, though edible, have a skin which is astringent and unpleasant to eat when still moist; after drying for a time the thin skin loses its astringency but is still better removed to reach the white fruit underneath. Sweet Chestnut is a large, beautiful, quick growing tree. The sweet chestnut is a native of the Mediterranean region and the Romans probably introduced the sweet chestnut to Britain for its nuts (seeds) which are quite edible raw or cooked and can be made into flour or used as a coffee bean substitute. Keep in touch with the nature you love without having to leave the house. Gnarled bark of old sweet chestnut tree trunk (Castanea sativa) in green woodland, National Forest, Derbyshire, England, UK Detail of the bark of a horse chestnut tree eroded by time, with textures and scratches on the background. Broadening with age, this tree can reach up to 40 metres in height. Its bark can be recognised from its long diagonal fissures.