Aesculus Hippocastanum

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Aesculus Hippocastanum Aesculus hippocastanum - European Horsechestnut, Common Horsechestnut (Hippocastanaceae) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, known Twigs for its tall stately habit, prominent white flowers, and -gray stout stem; prominent brown leaf scars large nuts. European Horsechestnut is not widely planted -very large terminal dark brown bud(s) with large scales and in the U.S. because of potentially severe problems with a coating of shiny, sticky resin in late autumn through leaf scorch. It is extremely common in Western Europe. late winter -lateral buds smaller; branches light gray, rough FEATURES Trunk Form -dark gray to brown -large tree -fissured then becoming platy; eventually exposing a light -to 80' tall x 40' wide orange interior bark; noticeable and quite ornamental -upright oval -medium growth rate USAGE Culture Function -full sun to partial shade -specimen and shade tree for large properties like campuses -prefers a moist, well-drained -widely grown in Europe as a street tree where it seems less soil susceptible to disfiguring leaf scorch -tolerates urban stress but will Texture not look attractive due to leaf -bold in foliage and when bare scorch, especially in hot, dry Assets summers (common in Ohio) -stately specimen tree with early prominent white -low availability in B&B form inflorescences Foliage Liabilities -opposite arrangement -moderate to severe leaf scorch or powdery mildew in mid- -dark green; to late-summer deciduous; Habitat palmately -Zones 4 to 7 compound with 7 -Native to Europe (sometimes 5) leaflets that fuse SELECTIONS at their bases (no Alternates petiolules) -large specimen trees (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus macrocarpa, -obovate leaflets Q. bicolor, etc); spring white-flowering trees (widest near the Cultivars – Variants – Related species apex); acuminate -Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii' - Baumannii (narrow tip); Horsechestnut - double white-petaled inflorescences that last doubly serrate longer than the species yet are sterile (produce no nuts) -early to leaf out; -Aesculus x carnea - Red Horsechestnut - hybrid orange pubescence between European Horsechestnut and Red Buckeye; to 40' x on emerging 20' with smaller pink inflorescences; does not show foliar petiole diseases as do most other Buckeyes and Horsechestnuts; -susceptible to often used as a street or specimen tree; B&B; low unsightly leaf availability; known as an urban-tolerant alternative where a scorch and/or powdery mildew by Aug. smaller Common Horsechestnut or a larger Red Buckeye is -autumn color - poor; scorched light brown to brown- desired yellow -Aesculus x carnea 'Briotii' - Briotii Red Flowers Horsechestnut - has deeper red inflorescences -white with red and yellow blotches at corolla base -12" long x 4" wide erect inflorescence of many solitary flowers; spectacular display -mid-May; inflorescence stands out above foliage Fruit -light brown spiny capsule -splitting in Sept.-Oct. to yield 1 or 2 - 1.25" dark brown nuts with a prominent white "buck eye".
Recommended publications
  • Horse Chestnut (Aesculus Hippocastanum) for Venous Insufficiency
    International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine Review Article Open Access Horse chestnut (aesculus hippocastanum) for venous insufficiency Volume 5 Issue 3 - 2017 Eugene Zampieron Zampieron Botanical monograph University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, USA Native to Asia and southeastern Europe (especially northern Greece, Albania, and Turkey), “The large leaves of horse chestnut Correspondence: Eugene Zampieron, University of (Aesculus hippocastanum) are divided into five or seven leaflets, Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, 413 Grassy Hills Rd, Woodbury, CT 06798, USA, Tel (203) 263-2970, spreading five fingers from the palm of the hand, and have - their Email margins finely toothed. The flowers grow in erect, dense racemes, mostly white with tinges of red. A showy floral display blooms in Received: July 13, 2016 | Published: February 01, 2017 April or May in the northeastern United States, and earlier in the West The ripe horse chestnuts are gathered from the ground as they fall from the trees in autumn- They are hulled from the spiny capsule, which contains usually three large seeds that resemble edible chestnuts, and which are utilized for medicine. The plant constituents utilized medicinally come from the fruits. in Europe and the Americas as an ornamental. Shortly after, native They are a complex mixture of triterpenoid saponin glycosides and people began utilizing the fruits of these stately trees as a human lactone glycosides, including protoaesigenin, barringeogenol-C, medicament. When crushed, the nuts, leaves, and bark were used in {reference 2) hippocaesculin, 6-E-glucoside-7-hydroxy coumarin, medicinal preparations, and especially eased the pain and inflammation and others, collectively called aescin (or occasionally escin).
    [Show full text]
  • Aesculus Hippocastanum Horsechestnut1 Edward F
    Fact Sheet ST-61 November 1993 Aesculus hippocastanum Horsechestnut1 Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson2 INTRODUCTION Horsechestnut can grow 90 or 100 feet tall, but is often 50 to 75 feet in the landscape with a spread of 40 to 50 feet (Fig. 1). The trunk grows to three feet thick and is covered with dark, somewhat exfoliating bark. The prominent white flowers, occurring in panicles at the branch tips, are the main ornamental feature of Horsechestnut. The large brown nuts covered with spiny husks fall and can dent cars and create a hazard on hard surfaces as people roll on the golfball-sized fruit. GENERAL INFORMATION Scientific name: Aesculus hippocastanum Pronunciation: ESS-kew-lus hip-oh-kass-TAY-num Common name(s): Horsechestnut, European Horsechestnut Family: Hippocastanaceae USDA hardiness zones: 4 through 7 (Fig. 2) Origin: not native to North America Uses: screen; shade tree; specimen; residential street tree Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range DESCRIPTION Figure 1. Mature Horsechestnut. Height: 50 to 80 feet Crown density: dense Spread: 40 to 50 feet Growth rate: medium Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a Texture: coarse regular (or smooth) outline, and individuals have more or less identical crown forms Crown shape: oval; round 1. This document is adapted from Fact Sheet ST-61, a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: November 1993. 2. Edward F. Gilman, associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.
    [Show full text]
  • Symrise Botanicals Product List 06-2008
    BOTANICALS PRODUCT LIST June 2008 EXTRAPONE ® EXTRAPONE ® Name Botanical Name (INCI) Symrise Symrise ProductName Product# Acai Euterpe Oleracea Extrapone ® Acai 392576 Almond Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Extrapone ® Almond 384049 Aloe Vera Aloe Barbadensis Extrapone ® Aloe Vera 209185 Aloe Vera Aloe Barbadensis Extrapone ® Aloe Vera P 615342 Apple Pyrus Malus Extrapone ® Apple 660196 Apricot Prunus Armeniaca Extrapone ® Apricot 636518 Arnica Arnica Montana Extrapone ® Arnica 611910 Avocado Persea Gratissima Extrapone ® Avocado Special 660246 Bamboo Bambusa Vulgaris Extrapone ® Bamboo P 611699 Basil Ocimum Basilicum Extrapone ® Basil 113381 Birch Betula Alba Extrapone ® Birch 660110 Camomile Chamomilla Recutita Extrapone ® Camomile 660155 Camomile Chamomilla Recutita Extrapone ® Camomile P 614932 Cardamom Elettaria Cardamomum Extrapone ® Cardamom 145838 Cedarwood Juniperus Virginiana Extrapone ® Cedarwood 627309 EXTRAPONE ® Name Botanical Name (INCI) Symrise Symrise ProductName Product# Chili Capsicum Annuum Extrapone ® Chili 227598 Cinnamon Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Extrapone ® Cinnamon 619301 Clove Eugenia Caryophyllus Extrapone ® Clove 174537 Coconut Cocos Nucifera Extrapone ® Coconut 660159 Cotton Gossypium Herbaceum Dragocotton 676583 Cream Dried Cream Extrapone ® Cream 142895 Cucumber Cucumis Sativus Extrapone ® Cucumber 660122 Dandelion Taraxacum Officinale Extrapone ® Dandelion 681279 Eucalyptus Eucalyptus Globulus Extrapone ® Eucalyptus 614857 Ginkgo Biloba Ginkgo Biloba Extrapone ® Ginkgo Biloba 680841 Ginseng Panax Ginseng Extrapone ®
    [Show full text]
  • Biological Flora of the British Isles: Aesculus Hippocastanum
    BIOLOGICAL FLORA OF THE BRITISH ISLES* No. 289 Biological Flora of the British Isles: Aesculus hippocastanum Peter A. Thomas1 | Omar Alhamd1,2 | Grzegorz Iszkuło3,4 | Monika Dering3,5 |Tarek A. Mukassabi6 1School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK 2College of Education for Pure Science, University of Mosul, Nineveh, Iraq 3Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kórnik, Poland 4Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland 5Poznań University of Life Sciences, Department of Forest Management, Poznań, Poland 6Department of Botany, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya Correspondence Peter A. Thomas Email: [email protected] 2 * Nomenclature of vascular plants follows Stace (2010) and, for non-British species, Flora Europaea. 3 Abstract 1. This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Horse-chestnut) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation. 2. Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree native to the Balkan Peninsula. Native populations are small (<10,000 trees total) and apparently in decline, but the tree has been widely planted in gardens and streets across Europe and other temperate areas from the 17th century onwards. It was voted the UK’s favourite tree in a 2017 poll. As a British neophyte it is occasionally naturalised in open wooded habitats. 3. Horse-chestnut is renowned for the beauty of its large (up to 30 cm long), upright panicles of white flowers, and for the large seeds (up to 42 g each) used in the formerly common children’s game of ‘conkers’.
    [Show full text]
  • Extraction and Purification of Plant Derived Surfactants
    EXTRACTION AND PURIFICATION OF PLANT DERIVED SURFACTANTS Buse Nur TEKİN, Gülden DÖNMEZ, Merve Deniz KÖSE, Mehmet ÜSTÜNDAŞ, Oğuz BAYRAKTAR Ege University Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering CONTENTS • Introduction • Sapindus mukorossi • Soybean waste water • Experimental • Results • Conclusion 2 INTRODUCTION • Human health has been adversely affected by the increasing use of synthetic surfactants. • Hence, studies which are to obtain natural surfactant from plant and industrial waste are increasing importance day by day. • Both Sapindus mukorossi fruit and soybean waste water rich in saponins were examined in this study. 3 Natural surfactants have gained importance because realizing economical aspect, health and environmental effect of usage of synthetic surfactants. Primary studies in surfactants were concerned with obtain natural surfactants from plants such as S. mukorossi, Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), The Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Soap Lily (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), Yucca. 4 Sapindus mukorossi . It is known as soapberries or soapnut. Saponin is a type of nonionic surfactant. Naturally saponins occur from glycosides of steroids, alkaloids and triterpenoids. Sapogenin + Monosaccharide = Saponin 5 6 7 Soybean waste water • Soybean waste commonly given to the municipal water sewer and cause environmental problems like eutrotification. Soybean waste contains 23% hemicellulose, 16% cellulose and 28% protein. Soybean Soybean waste water 8 Table 1. Natural saponin sources [5]. Food Amount of Saponin (g/kg solid) Peas (Pisum sativa spp) 11 Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) 43 Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) 6.3 Lentil 3.7-4.6 Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) 47 Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) 15 Oat (Avena sativa L.) 1.0 Garlic (Allium purchased L.) 2.9 Sesame Seeds (Sesame my inducer L.) 3.0 Green beans (P.
    [Show full text]
  • Aesculus Hippocastanum
    Aesculus hippocastanum Aesculus hippocastanum in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats C. Ravazzi, G. Caudullo Aesculus hippocastanum L., the European horse-chestnut, is a mesophytic broad-leaved tree native to a few mountain ranges in the Balkan Peninsula, but widespread in the urban landscape of moist, warm-temperate Europe. The morphology and ecology of its large seeds are very distinctive, and they are also known for their medicinal properties. Natural populations are reduced and declining after strong insect infections, pollution, wood extraction and forest fires. For this reason it recently received the status of near-threatened species. Description Frequency European horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) is the < 25% 25% - 50% only European native species belonging to the Aesculus genus, 50% - 75% which counts 13 tree and shrub species living in temperate > 75% Chorology 1 deciduous forests . It is a large and tall tree growing up to 39 m Native and potentially very long-living2. It develops an oval crown, bearing large shade-giving leaves composed by 5-7 palmate leaflets. Numerous white hermaphrodite flowers are born in a pyramidal inflorescence. The petals are yellow at the base, as are their major veins at pollination maturity, while later turning deep orange and thus afterwards rejected by bumblebees and honeybees3. Pollen is very distinctive, with coarse spines4. Only 2-5 (8) flowers from the base of each inflorescence develop the subglobose fruit, provided with sharp spines and containing one to three seeds. The ripe seed recalls the chestnut fruit in its dark brown colour and is used for horse feeding, justifying the origin of the common name5.
    [Show full text]
  • WINTER BUDS (FAMILIES G – Z) Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo Or Maidenhair Tree Family) V
    WINTER BUDS (FAMILIES G – Z) Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree Family) V. Max Brown Ginkgo or Maidenhair Tree Ginkgo biloba L. (Introduced) Grossulariaceae (Currant Family) V. Max Brown Missouri Gooseberry Ribes missouriense Nutt. Eastern Prickly Gooseberry [Dogberry] Ribes cynosbati L. Hamamelidaceae (Witch-hazel Family) V. Max Brown Ozark [Vernal] Witch-Hazel Hamamelis vernalis Sarg. [Southern] Witch-Hazel Hamamelis virginiana L. Hamamelidaceae (Witch-hazel Family) V. Max Brown Sweet Gum Liquidambar styraciflua L. Hippocastanaceae (Horsechestnut Family) V. Max Brown Red Buckeye Aesculus pavia L. Ohio Buckeye Aesculus glabra Willd. Hippocastanaceae (Horsechestnut Family) V. Max Brown Horse Chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Introduced) Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) V. Max Brown Pecan Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) V. Max Brown Bitternut Hickory Carya cordiformis (Wang.) K. Koch Black Hickory Carya texana Buckley Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) V. Max Brown Shellbark Hickory Carya laciniosa (Michx. f.) G. Don Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata (Mill.) K. Koch Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) V. Max Brown Mockernut [White] Hickory Pignut Hickory Carya tomentosa (Lam.) Nutt. Carya glabra (Mill.) Sweet Juglandaceae (Walnut Family) Butternut [White Walnut] V. Max Brown Juglans cinerea L. Black Walnut Juglana nigra L. Lauraceae (Laurel Family) [Northern] Spicebush V. Max Brown Lindera benzoin (L.) Blume Sassafras Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees Lythraceae (Loosestrife Family) V. Max Brown Crape [Crepe] Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica L. f (Introduced) Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family) V. Max Brown Umbrella-Tree Magnolia tripetala (L.) L. Cucumber-Tree Magnolia acuminata (L.) L. Magnoliaceae (Magnolia Family) V. Max Brown Tuliptree [Tulip Tree, Yellow-Poplar] Liriodendron tulipifera L. Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora L. Malvaceae (Mallow Family) V. Max Brown Rose of Sharon [Shrubby Althaea] Hibiscus syriacus L.
    [Show full text]
  • TREE INVADERS Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner
    TREE INVADERS Over the past few years a number of pest and disease threats to trees within the UK have reached alarming levels, attracting media attention at both a local and national level. In this article Dr Glynn Percival, and Messers Jon Banks (Bartlett Tree Research and Diagnostic Laboratory) and Simon Holmes (Tree Surveys and Urban Tree Experts) summerises some of the major pests and diseases of growing concern. Horse chestnut leaf miner Since arriving in the 1600's, the common white flowering horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum L.), now represents one of the most commonest ornamental trees found within UK towns, cities, parks and woodlands. These trees are important for structure and shade, ecological value in support of insects and animals and for production of aescin, an anti- inflammatory of pharmaceutical importance. Over the past 7-8 years however, the horse chestnut tree has suffered heavily from attack by a leaf mining insect known the horse chestnut leaf miner (HCLM; Cameraria ohridella). HCLM is a moth about 5 mm long that was first discovered in the UK in the London Borough of Wimbledon in 2002. Since then this pest has spread rapidly through-out the UK. Its larvae are leaf miners that cause significant aesthetic damage to foliage by tunneling into the leaves physically destroying leaf tissue and stunting future growth. Infected leaves are covered in small brown patches which spread rapidly across the entire tree, giving an autumnal appearance by July-August. Eventually the leaves die and fall prematurely. When new ones grow they are again infected. The moth is able to survive winter temperatures of -23 °C, although it thrives in warmer climates, where it can achieve as many as five generations a year.
    [Show full text]
  • The Horse Chestnut Leafminer Cameraria Ohridella: Chemical Control and Notes on Parasitisation
    Plant Protect. Sci. Vol. 43, No. 2: 47–56 The Horse Chestnut Leafminer Cameraria ohridella: Chemical Control and Notes on Parasitisation Jelena KULDOVÁ1, Ivan HRDÝ1 and Petr JANŠTA2 1Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; 2Faculty of Natural Sciences, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic Abstract Kuldová J., Hrdý I., Janšta P. (2007): The horse chestnut leafminer Cameraria ohridella: chemical control and notes on parasitisation. Plant Protect. Sci., 43: 47–56. The expected high efficacy of Dimilin but also good protection by treatment with Confidor and Calypso were demonstrated. Mospilan was less effective. A high mortality of ultimate larval instars of the leafminer and their substantial parasitisation was observed in experiments with potted seedlings on Confidor and Calypso treated leaves of horse chestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum. The parasitoids found in mines with larvae and pupae of C. ohridella on A. × carnea and A. hippocastanum were recorded and determined. The most abundant species was Minotetrastichus frontalis (Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae). The possible effect of insecticide treatments on parasitisation of the horse chestnut leafminer is discussed. Keywords: Cameraria ohridella; Aesculus hippocastanum; A. × carnea; chemical control; insecticides; parasitisation At present, the horse chestnut leafminer Came- 1999a, b; Šefrová 2001; Šefrová & Laštůvka raria ohridella Deschka et Dimić (Lepidoptera, 2001; Kalinová et al. 2003). The present work Gracillariidae) has spread over most of Europe follows our previous one (Najmanová et al. 2006) (Guichard & Augustin 2002; Kindl et al. 2002). that dealt with residues of diflubenzuron and their Laštůvka et al. (1994) reported the first occur- efficacy on C. ohridella. The effect of difluben- rence of C.
    [Show full text]
  • American Forests 2020 National Register of Champion Trees
    AMERICAN FORESTS 2020 NATIONAL REGISTER OF CHAMPION TREES Record Reference Number Year Nominated Nominated By Scientific Name Circumference (Inches) Height (Feet) Crown Spread (Feet) Total Points Year Last Verified Current Status Date Crowned County State 2915 1999 Steve Sillett and Robert Van Pelt Abies amabilis 212 222 38 444 2011 Champion 2012-03-23 Clallam WA 2907 1992 R.O. Brooks and C. Keeran Abies balsamea 160 104 53 277 2018 Champion 2019-09-13 Adams PA 3770 2006 Alan R. Washburn Abies bracteata 150 127 36 286 2016 Champion 2016-09-01 Monterey CA 5325 2013 Barbara Gardner Abies concolor 244 101 55.5 359 2013 Champion 2013-09-01 Utah UT 6582 2020 Carl Casey and Martin Crawford Abies concolor var. lowiana 229 227 42 467 2020 Co-Champion 2020-09-16 Mariposa CA 6581 2020 Carl Casey Abies concolor var. lowiana 236 220 46 468 2020 Co-Champion 2020-09-16 Mariposa CA 6361 2018 Carl Casey Abies concolor var. lowiana 261 201 37 471 2018 Co-Champion 2019-09-13 Tuolumne CA 6289 2018 Carl Casey, Martin Crawford, and Robert Van Pelt Abies concolor var. lowiana 259 199.5 48.5 471 2018 Co-Champion 2018-09-06 Mariposa CA 4638 2009 Byron Carmean, J. Murray, and Gary Williamson Abies fraseri 116 96 45 223 2012 Champion 2012-09-01 Harrisonburg VA 5250 2013 Robert Van Pelt Abies grandis 265 227 48 504 2018 Co-Champion 2019-11-12 Clallam WA 2912 1997 Dale Thornburg and Robert Van Pelt Abies grandis 245 257 36 511 2015 Co-Champion 2015-09-01 Humboldt CA 2917 1965 Stephen Arno and Oscar Sedergren Abies lasiocarpa 252 125 26 384 2015 Champion 2015-09-01 Jefferson WA 2908 1999 R.
    [Show full text]
  • Aesculus X Carnea (Red Horsechestnut) Red Horsechestnut Is a Hybrid of Aesculus Hippocastanum and Aesculus Pavia
    Aesculus x carnea (Red Horsechestnut) Red Horsechestnut is a hybrid of Aesculus hippocastanum and Aesculus pavia. It is less susceptible to disease than either of its parents. It has very large, palmately-compound green leaves and bright red to pink flowers on tall panicles. It prefers moist, acid soil but can grow in slightly alkaline soil. Leaf and flower litter is a problem during summer and fall. Its nuts are food for wildlife. Landscape Information French Name: Marronnier à fleurs rouge Pronounciation: ESS-kew-lus x KAR-nee-uh Plant Type: Tree Origin: Hybird origin Heat Zones: 6, 7, 8 Hardiness Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Uses: Screen, Container, Shade, Wildlife, Street, Pollution Tolerant / Urban Size/Shape Growth Rate: Slow Tree Shape: Pyramidal, Round, oval Canopy Symmetry: Symmetrical Canopy Density: Dense Canopy Texture: Coarse Height at Maturity: 8 to 15 m Spread at Maturity: 8 to 10 meters Time to Ultimate Height: 20 to 50 Years Plant Image Aesculus x carnea (Red Horsechestnut) Botanical Description Foliage Leaf Arrangement: Opposite Leaf Venation: Pinnate Leaf Persistance: Deciduous Leaf Type: Palmately Compound Leaf Blade: 10 - 20 Leaf Shape: Oblanceolate Leaf Margins: Serrate Leaf Textures: Glossy, Coarse Leaf Scent: No Fragance Color(growing season): Green Color(changing season): Green Flower Image Flower Flower Showiness: True Flower Size Range: Over 20 Flower Type: Panicle Flower Scent: Pleasant Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Pink Seasons: Spring, Summer Trunk Trunk Has Crownshaft: False Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally
    [Show full text]
  • As American As Apple Pie There May Be No Tree As Thoroughly American As the American Chestnut, Castanea Dentata, Or Any Whose Lo
    As American as Apple Pie There may be no tree as thoroughly American as the American Chestnut, Castanea dentata, or any whose loss was more keenly felt. Now The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) has celebrated its 25th anniversary with the publication of “Mighty Giants: An American Chestnut Anthology.” This beautiful book (borrowed from the Gloucester Library) is not just the history of the disastrous blight that wiped out our major timber tree, but also a rich retelling of the American love for that tree and the story of the scientific skill and determination currently focused on the breeding of a blight resistant hybrid. What we call horse chestnut is Aesculus hippocastanum, called merely chestnut in England. North American „buckeyes‟ are also in the Aesculus genus. The line you memorized in fifth grade of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow‟s poem “Under a spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands…” referred to Aesculus, not the Castanea. Despite the protests of school children, that tree was taken down when the road was widened. A most elegant chair for Mr. Longfellow‟s study was made from the wood. The Sage of Concord could sit in a chair of ebonized chestnut with green leather cushions and a carving of horse chestnut leaves and flowers on the back. School children came in droves to visit the elderly poet and his chair. Another member of the Castanea genus is the Allegany chinquapin, C. pumila, which has a single nut in its prickly burr, rather than the three closely packed nuts of the American chestnut. Chestnuts from other continents had been imported for generations: Thomas Jefferson grafted cuttings from European chestnuts onto his American chestnut at Monticello.
    [Show full text]