European Chestnuts

European Chestnut Stems & Buds

 

  • Stem is robust, thicker than those of the other chestnut species
  • Buds are larger than those of the other chestnut species

Burs

Image of the top of a European Chestnut Leaf
American Chestnuts 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 Chestnuts 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

Nuts

Image of the top of a European Chestnut Leaf
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
Image of the top of a European Chestnut Leaf
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

European Chestnut Leaf

Image of the top of a European Chestnut Leaf
  • Prominent, triangular teeth on leaf edges
  • Leaf elongate, with rounded base
  • Long petiole (leaf stem)