Chinese vs. American Chestnut
(Castanea mollissima vs. Castanea dentata)
Top ViewAmerican Leaf (left):
Leaf is long in relation to its width
Large, prominent teeth on edge; bristle at the end of each tooth curves inward
Base of leaf blade tapers sharply
Leaf is very thin and papery
Chinese Leaf (right):
Leaf is oval-shaped
Teeth are smaller
Base of leaf blade is rounded
Leaf is thick and waxy-feeling
Bottom ViewAmerican Leaf (left):
Elongated leaf
Large, prominent teeth on edge; bristle on teeth curves inward
Blade tapers sharply to meet stem at base of leaf blade
Light green underside on leaves exposed to the sun
Chinese Leaf (right):
Oval-shaped leaf
Small teeth on edge
Base of leaf blade rounded
Underside of sun leaves look whitish because of many hairs
American Buds and LenticelsPointed buds that angle away from the stem
Stems smooth and hairless
Stem color reddish brown to dark green
Small but numerous lenticels on stem
Chinese Buds and LenticelsRounded buds that hug the stem
Hairy stems and hairy leaf veins
Stem color tan to pea-green
Large lenticels (bumps) on stem
American StipulesSlender
Angle sharply out from stem
Usually fall off in June
Chinese StipulesBroad
Cover the buds
Remain on the stem through September
American Bur --------Chinese Bur
American Chestnut Burs: A dense mass of long, slender spines Spines are 2 to 3 cm long, 0.5 mm thick Up to 3 nuts per bur |
Chinese Chestnut Burs: A sparse mass of short, thick spines Spines are 1 to 2 cm long, 1 mm thick Up to 3 nuts per bur |
American ------ Chinese
American Chestnuts: Nuts are relatively small, 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter Tips of American chestnuts are pointed Nuts are hairy over 1/3 to 2/3 of length from pointed end Vascular bundles in a sunburst pattern on hilum end 2 to 3 nuts in each bur |
Chinese Chestnuts: Nuts are relatively large, 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter Tips of Chinese chestnuts are rounded Only the tips of the nuts are hairy Vascular bundles in a diffuse pattern on hilum end 2 to 3 nuts in each bur |