chestnut

There are two types of chestnut tree: the sweet or Spanish chestnut (illustrated) and the horse chestnut. The sweet chestnut, native to Southern Europe, Asia, and North America, has toothed leaves and edible seeds, and can grow to a height of 21 m/70 ft.

Any of a group of trees belonging to the beech family. The Spanish or sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) produces edible nuts inside husks; its timber is also valuable. Horse chestnuts are quite distinct, belonging to the genus Aesculus, family Hippocastanaceae. (True chestnut genus Castanea, family Fagaceae.)

Horse chestnuts are also called buckeyes. The American chestnut (C. dentata) was a valued hardwood until it was virtually destroyed by an introduced fungus.