Flowering branch 



t::e chestnut 



A. Pistillate Howcr'; 

 {Castauea di'ntuta) 



r>. Staminate flowers 



Two or three flat-sided, silky nuts are exposed when the 4-valved spiny burs open in October. In July the green leaves 

 are gilded by the profusion of staminate flower spikes that are waved like plumes of yellow chenille fringe at the ends of the 

 twigs. Very inconspicuous green spikes, sparsely flowered, bear solitary green pistillate flowers at their bases. The yellow 

 threads extruded from the tip of each spiny oval cone are the stigmas eaper to catch pollen 



