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Castanea Mill. (Fagaceae)

A genus of eight to ten species of trees and shrubs; of temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Three species occur in North Carolina, two of which are considered native to the state.

Key to Castanea in North Carolina

1. Leaves elliptic to oblanceolate, mostly < 15 cm long, the apices acute to obtuse; twigs puberulent; spine-covered husk of fruit splitting into 2 sections, enclosing 1 nut; nut circular in cross-section, 7-19 mm in diameter; pistillate dichasia of 1 flower; leaves with stellate trichomes, with few bulbous-based trichomes when young, puberulent, pilose, tomentulose, or tomentose in age (usually rather densely so). Longest spines of the fruit husk usually >10 mm long; young twigs glabrous; petiole 8-10 (-15) mm long...C. pumila (Common chinquapin)

1. Leaves elliptic, oblanceolate or lanceolate, 8-30 cm long, the apices acuminate, sometimes only shortly so; spine-covered husk of fruit splitting into 4 sections, enclosing (2-) 3 (-5) nuts; nut flattened on at least one side, 18-25 mm in diameter; pistillate dichasia of 3 flowers; leaves usually without stellate trichomes; twigs puberulent or glabrous...2.

2. Undersurface of leaves densely covered with bulbous-based trichomes when young, essentially glabrous in age; leaves mostly > 15 cm long, generally long-acuminate; twigs glabrous...C. dentata (American chestnut)

2. Undersurface of leaves persistently and densely tomentose beneath; leaves mostly < 15 cm long, generally short-acuminate; twigs puberulent...*C. mollissima (Chinese chestnut)