Castanea sativa

The sweet chestnut or Spanish chestnut is in the beech or Fagaceae family and is native to Europe and Asia Minor. As early as Roman times, it was introduced into more northerly regions, and later was also cultivated in monastery gardens by monks. The species is widely cultivated for its edible nuts and for its wood.

• Leaves are alternate, simple, oblong, boldly toothed, 20 cm long and 7 cm across, usually rounded at the base.
• Flowers of both sexes are in 10–20 cm long, upright catkins, the male flowers in the upper part and female flowers in the lower part.
• Female flowers develop into spiny sheaths containing 3–7 brownish nuts with white basal areas, that are shed during October.