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CHINQUAPIN. 



Castanea pumila, (Linnaeus) Miller. 



ORM — A small tree oi- shrub usually attaining a height of 20-30 ft., but may reach a height 

 50 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. In Pennsylvania seldom exceeds 20 ft. in height and 

 I. i& only 3-5 ft. in height. This is the northern limit of its distribution. Trunk usually 

 rr and crown roundish. 



ARK — May attain a thickness of one inch, usually fissured and broken into ^ight reddish- 

 wn loose plate-like scales. On branches and young trunks rather smooth, dark grayish-brown. 



WIGS — Slender, at first pale woolly, later pubescent, finally smoother, reddish-brown to 

 ilk brown; covered with numerous lenticels. 



UBS — Alternate, axillary; terminal bud absent; ovoid, blunt-pointed, about -} of an inch 

 1 '; covered with scurfy red scales. 



EAVES — Alternate, simple, oblong, thick, firm, straight-veined, sharp-pointed at apex, 

 Si -ply toothed on margin, yellowish-green and smooth on upper surface, pale green and 

 ■wtish-downy beneath. 



2AF-SCARS — Semi-oval, somewhat raised; with scattered, occasionally clustered, rather 

 iinspicuous bundle-scars. 



:.OWERS — Appear in May or June in more or less spreading aments. Staminate occur in 

 /(led clusters along ament; pistillate at base of upper aments in ovoid, prickly involucres. 



lUIT — Matures in September or October. A bur covered with numerous stiff spines and 

 ci aining usually 1, seldom 2, ovoid bright brown and sweet nuts with a more or less 

 b y apex. 



OOD — Ring-porous; with indistinct medullary rays; hard, strong, brown, durable, rich 

 unnio acid; splits easily. Weighs about 28 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for fence posts, 

 , and railroad ties. 



STINGUISHINO CHARACTERISTICS— The Chinquapin is a little brother of the Chestnut 



w h one may see by comparing their characteristic fruit. It can be distinguished from the 

 Cl;tnut by its smaller size, its whitish down on lower surface of leaf -blades, its smaller 

 8cfy red buds, and smaller burs containing usually 1 nut. 



LNGE — New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Florida, Missouri, and Texas. 



STRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Locally in a few counties in the southern part of the 

 S' e. Known to occur in the counties cf Franklin, Adams, York, Lancaster, and Chester. 



iiBITAT — Usually found on dry, sandy slopes, rather fertile hillsides, and margins of ponda 

 an streams. 



; PORTANCE OF THE SPECIES— It is of no commercial importance in this State on 

 actint of its small si5;e and its limited distribution. It is very attractive as an ornamental 

 shij and yields delicious nuts. 



