Seasonal Wild Flowers

Sweet Chestnut

Castanea sativa

Fagaceae

July

It is found thoughout the country, but is more common in

southern regions.

See the BSBI distribution map for Sweet Chestnut

It is an archaeophyte, probably introduced by the Romans.

In the South it produces chestnuts (seeds), which form

self-sown seedlings but they rarely form mature, fruiting

trees.

Mostly, they have been planted in hedges, woodland,

parks and gardens.

They are also extensively coppiced.

Sweet Chestnut is a large, spreading, deciduous tree

growing up to 35m

Male flowers are in long (15-20cm) pale-yellow catkins.

Female flowers are at the base of the male catkins.

Seed cases are sharply spined.

The seeds, chestnuts, are edible raw or roasted.

The leaves are shiny, toothed and broadly lanceolate.

Previous page: Sunflower
Next page: Syrian Ketmia

Sweet Chestnut tree, Beaminster, Dorset

Male catkins and female flowers

Close-up of male flowers

Close-up of female flower

Developing fruits with remains of catkins

Fruits on tree

Open seed case and chestnuts

Leaf