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The Seed Exchange

HAVE: have chestnuts drying-need identification please

16 years ago

Hi all pumkingal here, I had to make a trip to watertown NY, out front today seen these big prickly pods, so of course started collecting all I could, it's seeds,ha. The tree was mammoth and had big huge branches you could hang a swing on, it is very old about 3 1/2 feet around, the seeds are big too, mahogoney color, very pretty, but is this the good tree of the so called horse chestnut tree, any one know the difference? I would love to know I have about 100 pods drying now, thank you for your time, Lisa-

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Comments (9)

firegurl
16 years ago
Hi Lisa,
I think you have American Horsechestnut seeds- based on the description, American chestnut seeds are much smaller.

You can differentiate American Chestnut- Castanea Dentata and American horsechestnut-Aescelus hippocastanum soley from the leaf characteristics...

American Chestnut has long slender saw-toothed leaves that taper to a curved point. This is a true member of the Chestnut (Castanea)- Birch Family. There are very few trees left after the Chestnut Blight which started in the 1930's I think.

American horsechestnut has palmately compound leaves and 7 (sometimes 5) leaflets on one long stalk. The individual leaves are broadest toward the end and are also saw-toothed and end in a smaller abrupt point when compared to American Chestnut. Horsechestnuts are a member of the Buckeye family. Hope this helps.

By the way, if they are horsechestnut seeds...then they are POISONOUS, so handle with care and wash hands.

:) Danielle
Firegurl
chloespop
16 years ago
The Chinese Chestnut, Castanea mollisima is what you have. The Asian community here in Memphis comes to the Botanic Garden I work for every year around this time to harvest them for eating. Quite tasty!
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firegurl
16 years ago
Before you eat them, make sure that they are not horsechestnuts, you will be sick! I think the leaves of chinese chestnut look very similar to american chestnut, they should be single leaves- not compound, also toothed and long and pointy.

:) Danielle
Firegurl
philmont_709n2
16 years ago
Its not a chinese chestnut. chinese chestnuts are small trees. usually from 30-40 feet tall. a chinese chestnut tree 3 1/2 feet wide almost inconceivable . their trunks are usually only inches wide. 2 feet at max. I would agree that its probably a horse chestnut. i have seen huge ones.
firegurl
16 years ago
If they are horsechestnuts, I think they are based on your description, and you want to grow them you can use shallow bowls of water with toothpicks in the sides of the seeds holding them up slightly like avocado seeds germinate. Change the water frequently and use gloves to avoid getting the toxins on skin, in eyes etc. They are beautiful trees valued by wildlife for the nuts.
:) Danielle
Firegurl
chloespop
16 years ago
There are a half dozen Chinese chestnut trees here in the Bot Garden in Memphis that exceed 3.5ft diameter, so I beg to differ. The spiny pods are a giveaway.
chloespop
16 years ago
Is this what you collected?

http://www.forestry.ky.gov/NR/rdonlyres/45D3F091-7ABF-429B-B2BC-126490DAD055/0/chinesechestnuts.jpg
philmont_709n2
16 years ago
i cant imagine it. the largest chinese chestnut i have heard of was 60 feet tall and i wouldnt think they would be 3 and a half feet wide. sure they arent spanish chestnuts? horse chestnuts ALSO have spiny shells.
pumkingal
Original Author
16 years ago
Hello all and thank you all for your time and knowledge too, I am still new, I looked up all your ideas and it is most likely the horsechestnut tree, it had the same leaves and the branching of all the pods are the same and the spiny pods are the same, the other chestnut tree pods are too many prickles on them,
Well I have I guess horsechestnuts for trade, I have to still dry them I think some of the pods are green, thanks every one, Lisa

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