158-2 
forming a ring or crown about its summit. Svamens of sterile flowers either equal 
in number to the calyx lobes or two or three times as many, usually exserted; 
rudimentary stamens often present in the fertile flowers. Ovary generally more 
or less 2- to 7-celled; ovules anatropous, one or more in each cell; all of the 
ovules and cells except one aborting, to forma 1-seeded nut. Seeds mostly edible, 
forming among others the following nuts: Sweet-acorn (Quercus alba), Chestnut 
(Castanea vesca and var. Americana), Chinquapin (Castanea pumila), Beech-nut 
(Fagus ferruginea), Hazel-nut (Corylus Americana, C. rostrata), and Filbert 
(Corylus avellana), Albumen none; embryo formed of two thick, sarcous coty- 
ledons and a short or retracted radicle, filling the whole nut. 
History and Habitat.—This variety is indigenous to the United States from 
southern and middle parts of Maine to Michigan and southwards, especially along 
the hills and mountains; flowering in June and July, fruiting in October. The 
chestnut tree is remarkable both for its size and longevity; there is a specimen 
on the Neversink Highlands, New York Harbor, called the “ elephant,” which is 
said to be fully five hundred years old; Case’s Bot. Index, April, 1880, mentions 
an individual near Seymour, Ind., measuring 22 feet in diameter two feet from its 
base, and 70 feet to the first branch. The nuts when dry are sweet and whole- 
some, forming an article of merchandise. The best chestnuts of France, the #ar- 
rons, a large variety of C. vesca, are much esteemed when boiled, and form almost 
as prominent an article of hucksterage as the common roasted peanut does here. 
In the south of France and North of Italy the harvest is very large; here the nuts 
are largely used as a substitute for wheat flour and potatoes. The leaves are 
officinal in the U. S. Ph. as Extractum Castanee Fluidum. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh leaves, gathered in Septem- 
ber while still green, are chopped and pounded to a pulp and weighed. Then 
two parts by weight of alcohol are taken, the pulp mixed with one-sixth part of it 
and the rest of the alcohol added. After stirring the whole well and pouring it 
into a well-stoppered bottle, it is allowed to stand eight days in a dark, cool place. 
The tincture is then separated by decanting, straining and filtering. Thus pre- 
pared, it has a deep-brown color by transmitted light, an odor like that of the 
leaves, an astringent taste, and highly acid reaction. 
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.—The only analysis of this plant is one of the 
leaves, conducted by L. J. Steltzer (Am, Jour, Phar., 1880, p. 292). He determines 
the constituents to be: tannin 9 per cent., gum, albumen, a soft yellowish resin, 
fat and extractive; together with salts of K, Ca, Mg, and Iron. When assaying 
: for an alkaloid, he obtained negative results. _ 
: _ PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—I am unable to find any data upon this. The 
_ leaves in decoction have been used for whooping-cough. The provings by Dr. 
_ Houghton show no particular action upon the air-passages. Castanea is claimed 
___ to have a sedative action upon the nerves of respiration, 
_ DEscripTion oF PLATE 158. 
__-t End of branch in flower, Binghamton, N. Y., July 26th, 1882. 
— = Apu, representing the form when two are enclosed in the bur. 
