European Chestnuts
(Castanea sativa)
European Chestnut LeafProminent, triangular teeth on leaf edges
Leaf elongate, with rounded base
Long petiole (leaf stem)
European Chestnut Stems & BudsStem is robust, thicker than those of the other chestnut species
Buds are larger than those of the other chestnut species
American Bur --------European 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 |
European Chestnut Burs: A dense mass of long, stiff spines Spines are 2 to 3 cm long, 0.75 mm thick Up to 3 nuts per bur |
American - Chinese - Japanese - European
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 |
European Chestnuts: Nuts are relatively large, 1 to 2 inches in diameter Tips of European chestnuts are pointed Surface hair only at tip Vascular bundles in a large star pattern on hilum end 2 to 3 nuts in each bur |