THE OAK AND CHESTNUT 



141 



been 50 feet in circumference, although the tree is not a native of 

 Britain. Much attention has been given to its culture in Europe 

 and many varieties have consequently originated. The very large 

 nuts, otherwise like those of our American tree, are a staple article 

 of food in south Europe and the Levant, particularly among the 

 poorer classes, being eaten raw, boiled or roasted. The nuts are 



Fig. 29. Sketch Map Showing Existing Range (solid black) and the 

 Fossil Occurrences (solid circles) of the Chestnut 



also dried and made into flour, and there is a considerable export 

 trade in them from Spain and Italy. Botanists formerly called 

 the tree Castanea vesca from the Latin vescor, i.e., to eat, but the 

 accepted modem name is Castanea vulgaris, or common chestnut. 

 It was formerly confused with the Japanese Castanea japonica, 

 of limited distribution in eastern Asia, and with the common 



