Can Anyone I.D. this tree

The Fly · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:39 pm Post subject: Can Anyone I.D. this tree

I only have the seed that fell off it .I'll get a photo of tree if need be.

Greengage · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 5:44 pm Post subject:

Spanish Chestnut. Castanea sativa
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/details?plantid=340

The Fly · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:12 pm Post subject:

Thank you GREENGAGE

tagwex · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:51 am Post subject:

Ha! Silver surfer must be asleep.

The Fly · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:19 am Post subject:

Greengage · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:49 am Post subject:

No I think she gives me a chance with the easy ones its the unusual one that challenges her. Laughing

tagwex · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 9:34 am Post subject:

I'm unusual!

tippben · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2014 1:32 pm Post subject:

I used to gather the seeds every year in Southern England for cooking. I also used to have a side job cleaving the coppice rods to make builders' fencing palings. They are not very common in Ireland. The best clue as to why is from Oliver Rackham.

He reckons that they were introduced to the UK by the Roman legions, who used the dried nuts to make flour for the soldiers, and used the wood in military constructions. That would also explain the abundance of chestnut coppice in the south of England, relative to the north. Coupled with the relative absence in Scotland and Ireland.