THE CHINQUAPIN 



THE relationship of the Chinquapin to the Chestnut may readily be inferred by 

 comparing the pictures on the plates illustrating the two species : twigs, leaves, 

 flowers and fruits all show a striking resemblance. Both belong to the genus 

 Castanea, and the Chinquapin has well been called the little brother of the Chestnut. 

 The normal shrublike form of the Chinquapin may be seen in the lower picture of the 

 plate which represents part of a group growing at the Arnold Arboretum a group which 

 has often been cited in illustration of the fact that the species is hardy in Massachusetts, 

 although its northern limit as an indigenous shrub is New Jersey and Pennsylvania, from 

 which states it ranges southward to Florida and Texas. In some parts of this great area 

 it develops into a tree form forty or fifty feet high, though more commonly it is a shrub 

 which spreads by underground stems into bushy thickets. These shrubs are remarkable 

 however, in that they bear the small chestnut-like fruits when only about a yard high and 

 in such abundance that these sweet chestnuts are commonly sold in Southern cities 



In the Cyclopedia of Horticulture the useful qualities of the Chinquapin for land- 

 scape gardeners are summarized in these words: "Useful for planting on dry and rocky 

 slopes; attractive when in flower and again in fall, with its abundant light green burs 

 among the dark foliage." The flowers appear toward midsummer; the pollen-bearing 

 blossoms are in the long spikes shown on the plate, while the small seed-bearing flowers 

 with their projecting stigmas are shown on the twig between these spikes. The shrubs 

 become especially attractive when the foliage changes to its yellow hue in autumn. 



On the Pacific Coast there grows a beautiful tree called the Golden-leaved Chestnut 

 (Castanopsis chrysophylla) which is closely related to the Chinquapin and the Chestnut. 

 In its best development it reaches a height of one hundred and fifty feet and a trunk 

 diameter of ten feet, but commonly it is of course much smaller, and often is a mere shrub, 

 the latter condition prevailing along the upper mountain slopes. It is notable for the 

 beauty of its foliage, which has the peculiar character of remaining on the branches for 

 two or three years, turning yellow before falling so that the branches commonly show 

 both green and golden leaves. In addition the under surface of the leaves is " coated with 

 golden yellow persistent scales." The sweet nuts are borne in spiny burs resembling those 

 of the Chinquapin. The tree form is not hardy in cold climates, but the shrubby form 

 from the higher altitudes is so much hardier that it is worth trying on the Eastern coast. 



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