Castanea crenata
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Description
Castanea crenata is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree growing to 10–15 m (30–50 ft) tall. The leaves are similar to those of the sweet chestnut, though usually a little smaller, 8–19 cm (3+1⁄4–7+1⁄2 in) long and 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) broad. The flowers of both sexes are borne in 7–20 cm (2+3⁄4–7+3⁄4 in) long, upright catkins, the male flowers in the upper part and female flowers in the lower part. They appear in summer, and by autumn, the female flowers develop into spiny cupules containing 3–7 brownish nuts that are shed during October.
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Cultivation and uses
Castanea crenata is an important tree in Japan and Korea for its heavy production of sweet, edible nuts. A number of cultivars have been selected for large nut size. It is also widely cultivated in eastern China and Taiwan.
It is resistant to chestnut blight and to ink disease, and for these reasons is of importance in North America in the development of disease-resistant hybrids and genetic engineering of the American chestnut, which is susceptible to both fungal pathogens.
Examples of European × Japanese hybrid cultivars are:
- 'Colossal'
- ‘Bouche de Betizac’
- ‘Precoce Migoule’
- ‘Labor Day’
C. crenata produces more biomass in its stems when the nuts are smaller and planted deeper.