CHESTNUTS 53 



incorrectly called the plane. It is distinct 

 from either of the Eastern trees named 

 sycamore and plane. At all seasons this is a 

 fine tree, but in spring, when the leaves are 

 in their first freshness, it is one of the most 

 beautiful denizens of our parks. The leaves 

 are of great size, measuring about seven inches 

 across, and the seeds, when they attain 

 maturity, are winged, and have the wings 

 set angularly towards the seed. In this 

 respect the sycamore differs from the field 

 maple. 



The Spanish or Sweet Chestnut ( Castanea 

 sativa), Plate I., Fig. 10, is readily known by 

 its peculiar leaf. Its edible fruit is largely 

 used on the Continent, but does not grow to its 

 full size in this country. Consequently, the 

 tree is here grown merely as an ornament, or 

 as copse-wood. The Horse-chestnut (JEsculus 

 hippocastanum), Plate L, Fig. 11, although 

 not truly a chestnut, may be mentioned here, 

 because the two trees are commonly associated 

 in ornamental grounds. The leaves of the 

 latter are broad, often a foot across, and 

 many-fingered. The flowers are tall spikes 

 cream-coloured in some, red in others, and 



