in its natural habitat it grows to a height of 30 - 40 m
as a solitary tree it is a massive tree
the crown is broadly oval and spreading
the bark is brownish-grey
the bork is dark brown, deeply network-cracked, and firm
Buds
they are arranged in a spiral, egg-shaped, significantly inclined from the twig, measuring 4 - 7 x 3 - 5 mm in size
The scale leaves are yellow-green, later turning reddish-brown.
Shoots
young branches are green-brown, slightly ribbed, later becoming grey-brown to reddish-brown
lenticels are small, whitish, and prominent
leaf cushions are elevated, with the leaf stalk being triangular
Leaves (assimilation organs)
simple (feather-like), elongated elliptic to lanceolate, sharply pointed at the tip, wedge-shaped to slightly heart-shaped at the base, 8 - 22 x 4 - 8 cm in size
with long sharp serrations along the margin
the upper side dark green and glossy, the underside yellowish green
petiole is 1.5 - 3.0 cm long, hairy
Flowers
it is a monoecious woody plant, flowers are either hermaphroditic or unisexual, it blooms from June until full leafing
male flowers are clustered in groups of 7 in catkins 10-15 cm long and erect
female flowers grow at the lower part of male catkins, arranged in groups of 3 in a common calyx (cup)
catkins, which also bear female flowers, grow in the upper parts of the shoots above catkins with only male flowers
Fruits – seeds
the fruit is a broadly oval achene, 1.5 - 3.0 x 2.0 - 3.5 cm in size, dark brown with a pointed top and silvery hairy, flat on one side and bulging (rounded) on the other
the achenes are arranged in groups of 2 - 3 in a long-spined round cup that splits open with 3 - 4 flaps
it ripens from September to October.
Extension
originally expanded in the Mediterranean region, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus
considering the ancient culture of its cultivation (already in the 5th century AD), it is now difficult to determine its natural range of distribution
in Slovakia, it is grown in larger quantities in the warmest areas at several locations (Jelenec near Nitra, Radošina, Chtelnica)
Ecology
it is a thermophilic, semi-shaded woody plant
it thrives well on acidic, sufficiently deep, and moist soils
Significance
it is a significant fruit-bearing tree
fruits – chestnuts have wide possibilities of use
it is a decorative tree in gardens and parks
it produces quality wood, with properties and uses similar to oak wood in deep and moist soils
