Castanea pumila ashei

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Castanea pumila
Light:Full Sun
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:7
Soil pH:5.6-7.3
Height:16'
Blooms:Mid Summer
Open Woods Forest
Native to:
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Castanea pumila ashei (common name: chinquapin)

Propagation: Seed - where possible sow the seed as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame or in a seed bed outdoors[1]. The seed must be protected from mice and squirrels. The seed has a short viability and must not be allowed to become dry. It can be stored in a cool place, such as the salad compartment of a fridge, for a few months if it is kept moist, but check regularly for signs of germination. The seed should germinate in late winter or early spring. If sown in an outdoor seedbed, the plants can be left in situ for 1 - 2 years before planting them out in their permanent positions. If grown in pots, the plants can be put out into their permanent positions in the summer or autumn, making sure to give them some protection from the cold in their first winter[K].

Division of suckers in winter[2]. They can be planted straight out into their permanent positions.

Cultivation: Prefers a good well-drained slightly acid loam but succeeds in dry soils[3][4][2]. Once established, it is very drought tolerant[3][4][2]. Very tolerant of highly acid, infertile dry sands[2]. Averse to calcareous soils but succeeds on harder limestones[4][2].

Although it is winter-hardy in most areas of Britain, this species only really thrives in areas with hot summers[2]. The young growth in spring, even on mature plants, is frost-tender and so it is best to grow the plants in a position sheltered from the early morning sun[K].

Produces suckers, eventually forming a thicket[5].

An excellent soil-enriching understorey in pine forests[2].

Flowers are produced on wood of the current year's growth[6]. Plants are fairly self-sterile[2]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[2].

Fruits are produced within 2 - 3 years from seed[7]. One report dealing with the type species states that it never fruits in Britain[4]. However, a bush at Wisley fruits well in most years[K]. Therefore it is hoped that this sub-species will also fruit in Britain[K]. There are a few plants at Hilliers Arboretum, but we have never seen them produce fertilized fruits[K].

Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[2].

Range: Eastern N. America. - Virginia to Texas.

Habitat: By the coast, in dry thickets woods and borders of swamps[8][2].

Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked[9][10][11]. Sweet with a nice nutty flavour[12][13][14], it is very acceptable raw[15][16][K]. When baked it becomes even sweeter and develops a floury texture, it makes an excellent potato or cereal substitute[K]. The seed is quite small, about half the size of C. dentata[14]. Sold in local markets in America[13].

Medicinal: The leaves contain tannin and are antiperiodic, astringent and tonic[12][10][17]. An infusion of the leaves has been used as an external wash for the feverish condition common to colds[17][18].

Usage: The bark, leaves, wood and seed husks all contain tannin.

Wood - hard, strong, light. Used for fence posts etc[12][10].

Pollinators: Insects

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Seed Ripens: Mid Fall

Flower Type: Monoecious

Also Known As: Fagus pumila.

Links

References

  1. ↑ Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
  5. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
  6. ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
  7. ↑ Rosengarten Jr., Frederic. The Book of Edible Nuts. Dover, 1984.
  8. ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
  9. ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
  11. ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  15. ↑ Brouk, Bohuslav. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press, 1975.
  16. ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
  18. ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.


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