21 
GOLDEN LEAVED CHESTNUT. 
CASTANEA chrysophylla, (Dougl. Mss.,) foliis sempervi- 
rentibus lato-lanceolntis acuminatis coriaceis integerrimis 
glabris subtus aureo-farinosis. Hook. Flor. Bor. Am., vol. 
2 . p. 159. 
According to Douglas, this is a splendid evergreen 
tree, varying in height from 20 to 70 feet, with leaves 4 
to 5 inches long, deep green above, and below of a rich 
golden-yellow. These leaves are, also, (very different 
from all the rest of the genus,) quite entire. The spikes 
or catkins of flowers scarcely exceed an inch in length, 
including the peduncle, and they are solitary in the 
axills of the upper leaves. Sometimes all the flowers 
on a catkin are male; sometimes the 2 or 3 lower 
flowers are female. The fruits are 2 or 3, crowded, 
or densely covered with acicular prickles. Said to be 
common at the Grand Rapids of the Columbia, Cape 
Orford, and near Mount Hood; constantly affecting the 
hills. This species rests wholly on the authority of 
Douglas. I did not meet with it, nor does it appear 
that any specimens were sent to England. It will pro- 
bably prove to be some very different genus to that of 
the present. 
