History of Chestnuts
It is a species cultivated since ancient times. Many fossil findings show that the chestnut tree is spontaneous in the Mediterranean regions up to the Caucasus.
Up to the Bronze Age it spread mainly through Turkey, Greece and Italy. In Roman times, through Europe.
Castanea sativa Mill. (1979-07-01) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
Forest of chestnuts (2021-06-16) by Marta LatiniMuseo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize it? Its shape
It is a deciduous tree up to 30 metres tall, with a very large crown. The bark is greyish-brown and presents longitudinal grooves with age.
Castanea sativa Mill. (1993-07-01) by Anzalone B.Museo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize it? Leaves
The leaves, 10-25 cm long and 5-8 cm wide, alternate, with dark green lamina on the upper page and lanceolate shape, with acute apex.
The edge of the leaf is serrated and the raised veins are pinnated (arranged like the barbs of a bird feather).
Castanea sativa Mill. (2021-06-16) by Mauro IberiteMuseo Erbario Sapienza
How to recognize it? Its flowers
The male flowers, gathered in showy inflorescences, produce a lot of nectar and attract insects such as bees, bumblebees and beetles. The female inflorescences have 2-3 flowers each enclosed in a shell that, when mature, turns into a spiny hedgehog with 2/3 chestnuts.
Where to find a chestnut tree
It is very common in Lazio (Italy), especially in hilly, submontane or mountainous areas, up to 1200m above sea level.
It loves the sun, fears the rigours of winter and the excessive heat of summer, prefers sufficiently humid environments, fresh, deep and acidic soils.
Curiosities...
Its fruits are tasty and nutritious and its wood is semi-hard, workable and durable.
It is a very long-lived plant, which can live up to 1,000 years.
The king of chestnut trees
Famous in Italy is the Chestnut tree of the hundred horses in Sicily, on the slopes of Etna.
Tap to explore
It is one of the oldest specimens in Europe, whose trunk circumference and height measure 22 meters each.
The Sapienza Herbarium Museum holds over one million specimens and each one tells an incredible story
Texts and images by the staff of the Herbarium Museum, Sapienza University of Rome
Layout by Caterina Giovinazzo and Ilaria De Benedictis
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