Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Castanea dentata
American chestnut
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: Extinct

Notes:Planted individuals of this species may persist in Illinois under cultivation, but there are no known native indiviudal in IL. Ebinger et al. describe that, "In Illinois, this species was originally found in rich woods in the southern tip of the state (Jones and Fuller 1955, Mohlenbrock 2002a). Natural stands of this species were probably in Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties. Presently no native individuals are known to exist in llinois."

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; linear, oblong leaf shape

Inflorescence: catkin

Flowers: unisexual, monoecious; incomplete, not petals

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Rocky areas; sandy, loose soils.

ILPIN Notes: 13 Pistillate flowers born on the base of the staminate catkins or axillary; large spiny fruits; coarsely and sharply serrate leaves. Contribution may be compromised due to the persistance of the blight. Form-whips. Probably insect (beetle) pollinated. Terrestrial furbearers-food, nuts; esp. Eastern Chipmunks. Western range limit.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal: bird, mammal
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: good; small mammals: good
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good; small mammals: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 9
  • Chicago Area:

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