File:Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20313638710).jpg

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11penx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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PLATE LIV. CHINQUAPIN. 1. A f1<»\v«'iing hraiicli with leavt'-s, x J. 2. A fruiting Iiniiicli with mature leaves, \ 3. A mit, X I. 4. A winter Itraiicl), x J. 5. A section of winter liranch, enlarged. 127 CHINQUAPIN. Castanea pumila, (Linnaeus) Miller. FORM—A small tree or shrub usually attaining a height of 20-30 ft., but may reach a height of 50 ft. with a diameter of 3 feet. In Pennsylvania seldom exceeds 20 ft. in height and often i& only 3-5 ft. in height. This is the northern limit of its distribution. Trunk usually short and crown roiaidish. BARK—May attain a thickness of one inch, usually fissured and broken into light reddish- brown loose plate-like scales. On branches and young trunks rather smooth, dark grayish-brown. TWIGS—Slender, at first pale woolly, later pubescent, finally smoother, reddish-brown to dark brown; covered with numerous lenticels. BUDS—Alternate, axillary; terminal bud absent; ovoid, blunt-pointed, about i of an inch long; covered with scurfy red scales. LEAVES—AlternatJ, simple, oblong, thick, firm, straight-veined, sharp-pointed at apex, sharply toothed on margin, yellowish-green and smooth on upper surface, pale green and whitish-downy beneath. LEAF-SCARS—Semi-oval, somewhat raised; with scattered, occasionally clustered, rather inconspicuous bundle-scars. FLOWERS—Appear ip May or June in more or less spreading amenta. Staminate occur in crowded clusters along ament; pistillate at base of upper aments in ovoid, prickly Involucres. FRUIT—Matures in September or October. A bur covered with numerous stiff spines and containing usually 1, seldom 2, ovoid bright brown and sweet nuts with a morb or less hairy apex. WOOD—Ring-porous; with Indistinct medullary rays; hard, strong, brown, durable, rich in tannic acid; splits easily. Weighs abont 28 lbs. per cubic foot. Used for fence posts, rails, and railroad ties. DISTINGUISHINCJ CHARACTERISTICS—The Chinquapin is a little brother of the Chestnut which one may see by comparing their characteristic fruit. It can be distinguished from the Chestnut by its smaller size, its whitish down on lower surface of leaf-blades, its smaller scurfy red buds, and smaller burs containing usually 1 nut. RANGE—New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Florida, Missouri, and Texas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Locally In a few counties in the southern part of the State. Known to occur in the counties cf Franklin, Adams, York, I^ancaster, and Chester. HABITAT—Usually found on dry, sandy slopes, rather fertile hillsides, and margins of ponds ami streams. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—It is of no commercial importance in this State on a.ccunt of its small size and its limited distribution. It Is very attractive as an ornamental shrub and yields delicious nuts.

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