Sweet chestnut

The sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), also known as the Spanish chestnut or European chestnut, is a species of tree in the family Fagaceae.

Growing up to 35 m (115 ft) tall and with trunks over 4 m (13 ft) wide, the tree has long toothed leaves. Its long catkins contain both male and female flowers, the latter producing brownish nuts with spiky sheaths in the fall. The tree can live for hundreds of years.

The species is native to Southern Europe and Anatolia, and widely cultivated in Western and Central Europe. It provides food for animals but is affected by fungal pathogens. The starch-containing seed, the chestnut, is edible to humans and has been used in cooking since ancient times.