Castanea dentata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64402a7c04151864546448 |
| Scientific name | Castanea dentata |
| Authority | Borkh. |
| First published in | Theor. Prakt. Handb. Forstbot. 1: 741 (1800) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In American frontier medicine, infusions or decoctions of American chestnut bark were used to temper diarrhea and the cramping that often accompanies it, as well as to soothe sore throats and coughs that felt “dry” or “loose.” Nineteenth‑century physicians such as J. M. Scudder emphasized these astringent, tonic preparations and described dosing conventions (American Eclectic Practice, 1870; Materia Medica and Therapeutics, 1893). Appalachian settlers, recorded by Albert E. Emory, often drank a strong tea of fresh or dried bark for similar complaints, while the Shakers of New England employed bark infusions as a standard astringent wash and internal remedy for various “loose” conditions (The Pharmaceutist and Other Essays, 1895).
A classic astringent tea from the American chestnut uses about 8–10 g of dried bark or 12–15 g of fresh bark per 250–300 ml of water. The material is simmered for 10–15 minutes and steeped for 10 minutes before drinking 120–180 ml two or three times daily for short‑term use. Do not use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding; avoid in children with untreated constipation or in people taking medications that affect bleeding or blood pressure without professional advice.
The astringency that guided these uses is readily explained by the plant’s profile of hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins), plus flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol glycosides and catechins; these compounds are well documented for the American chestnut and plausibly underlie its astringent and anti‑inflammatory effects.
Modern work reflects this enduring interest: hydrolyzable tannins and ellagitannins from chestnut bark show notable antioxidant activity in assays (Kroll et al., Phytomedicine, 2004), and American chestnut bark and leaf teas remain available as specialty products, while conservation programs and lumber sources keep the tree culturally present in the Appalachian region.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Wood: timber for construction, furniture, veneer, turned objects, fence posts, utility poles, railroad ties.
- Edible nuts: roasted, boiled, used in confectionery, ground into flour for baking, used as a starch source.
- Tannins: extracted from bark and wood for leather tanning and as natural brown dye for protein fibers.
Industrial and craft applications:
- Structural timber for houses, barns, bridges, and other outdoor structures; valued for high strength‑to‑weight ratio and natural decay resistance.
- Wood used for veneer, cabinetry, interior paneling, and carved or turned objects.
- Bark and wood chips historically processed for tannin extraction; the resulting chestnut tannins employed in the leather industry.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- The nuts are edible and have been a staple food in the United States; they are roasted, boiled, or peeled and used in pies, stuffing, and purees.
- Chestnut flour, produced by grinding dried nuts, is used in breads, biscuits, and pastry formulations, providing a gluten‑free starch component.
Colorants and tanning:
- Chestnut bark contains 10–15 % hydrolysable tannins, a class of compounds that impart a brown color when applied to protein fibers such as wool or silk.
- Historically the same tannin‑rich bark and wood were used to tan leather, producing a characteristic chestnut‑brown leather.
Wood and fiber:
- Chestnut wood (average dry density 0.45–0.55 g cm⁻³) combines lightness with a tensile strength comparable to many hardwoods, making it suitable for light‑frame construction, posts, and decking.
- The high tannin content (≈8–12 % of dry wood) provides natural resistance to decay, reducing the need for chemical preservatives.
- The fine, even grain allows easy machining, nailing, and finishing.
Properties relevant to use:
- Hydrolysable tannins (gallotannins) yield brown hues and act as natural mordants, improving dye fastness.
- Low shrinkage and dimensional stability after seasoning support use in joinery and furniture.
- The wood’s low specific gravity reduces overall weight of structural members while preserving load‑carrying capacity.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- American chestnut was historically the dominant canopy tree across the eastern United States but was virtually eliminated by chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) by the mid‑20th century.
- Current supplies are limited to salvaged timber from surviving remnants, experimental plantations, and disease‑resistant breeding programs.
- Sustainable harvesting is increasingly dependent on certification schemes for restored stands, and restoration projects aim to re‑establish commercial quantities within the next decades.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Castanea vesca var. denuda | Alph.Wood | Class-book Bot. : 832 (1881) |
| Castanea americana | Raf. | Fl. Ludov. : 134 (1817) |
| Castanea sativa var. americana | (Michx.) Sarg. | Gard. & Forest 2: 484 (1889) |
| Castanea sativa var. pendulifolia | Lavallée | Énum. Arbres 113. 1885 |
| Castanea vesca var. americana | Michx. | Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 193 (1803) |
| Castanea vulgaris var. americana | (Michx.) A.DC. | Prodr. 16(2): 114 (1864) |
| Fagus castanea var. dentata | Marshall | Arbust. Amer. 46. 1785 |
| Fagus dentata | Marshall | Arbust. Amer. 46–47 1785 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | american chestnut |
| ang | Ƿīnlandisc ceastanhnutu |
| ang | Ƿīnlendisc ceastanhnutu |
| ang | Ƿīnlendisc cystel |
| Bulgarian | американски кестен |
| Catalan | castanyer americà |
| Cherokee | ᎤᎾᎩᎾ |
| German | amerikanische kastanie |
| Persian | شاهبلوط آمریکایی |
| Finnish | amerikankastanja |
| French | châtaignier d'amérique |
| French | châtaignier américain |
| Galician | castiñeiro americano |
| Hebrew | ערמון אמריקאי |
| Croatian | obični američki kesten |
| Hungarian | amerikai gesztenye |
| Japanese | アメリカグリ |
| Korean | 미국밤나무 |
| Latvian | zobainā kastaņa |
| Norwegian Bokmål | amerikakastanje |
| Polish | kasztan amerykański |
| Polish | kasztan zębaty |
| Russian | Каштан американский |
| Russian | Каштан зубчатый |
| Russian | каштан американский |
| Serbian | Амерички кестен |
| Chinese | 美洲栗 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Start at 4°C for 3 months, then warm to 20°C for another 3 months. |
| Requires Soaking: These seeds need to be soaked in warm water until they swell, which can take 24-48 hours. Seeds that float are usually not viable and should be discarded, along with the soaking water. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Northern America click to expand
-
Eastern Canada
- Ontario
-
North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
-
Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
-
Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000811441 |
| UNII | 7574YJE22M |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 937 |
| Flora of Alabama | 2143 |
| Canadensys | 5956 |
| USDA Plants | CADE12 |
| Tropicos | 13100209 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:295320-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-34965 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 280744 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 562865 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 134033 |
| Nature Serve | 2.153295 |
| IUCN Red List | 62004455 |
| IPNI | 295320-1 |
| iNaturalist | 49186 |
| GBIF | 5333230 |
| Freebase | /m/0hsj0 |
| WisFlora | 3046 |
| EPPO | CSNDE |
| EOL | 1148514 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 12338 |
| USDA GRIN | 9435 |
| Wikipedia | American_chestnut |
| CMAUP | NPO9606 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_047496805.1 | Cdentata v1.0 | Chromosome | HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology | 2025-02-07 | 109 | 670.77 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acids and conjugates / Long-chain fatty acids | |||||
| Oleic Acid | 445639 | Click to see | 282.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Lineolic acids and derivatives | |||||
| Methyl linoleate | 5284421 | Click to see | 294.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Glycerolipids / Triradylcglycerols / Triacylglycerols | |||||
| Trilaurin | 10851 | Click to see CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC(COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC)OC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC | 639.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| cis-alpha-Ocimene | 5463455 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Elemane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Beta-Elemene | 6918391 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| Lupeol | 259846 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CCC2(C1C3CCC4C5(CCC(C(C5CCC4(C3(CC2)C)C)(C)C)O)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Parkeol | 12313974 | Click to see CC(CCC=C(C)C)C1CCC2(C1(CC=C3C2CCC4C3(CCC(C4(C)C)O)C)C)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Cycloartanols and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,3R,6S,8R,11S,12S,15R,16R)-15-[(2R,5S)-5-ethyl-6-methylhept-6-en-2-yl]-7,7,12,16-tetramethylpentacyclo[9.7.0.01,3.03,8.012,16]octadecan-6-ol | 44423569 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2(C1(CCC34C2CCC5C3(C4)CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C)C(=C)C | 454.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cycloneolitsol | 101306728 | Click to see CC(CCC(C)(C)C(=C)C)C1CCC2(C1(CCC34C2CCC5C3(C4)CCC(C5(C)C)O)C)C | 454.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Ergostane steroids / Ergosterols and derivatives | |||||
| (3beta)-24-Methylenelanost-9(11)-en-3-ol | 489917 | Click to see | 440.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,5R,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5S)-5,6-dimethylhept-6-en-2-yl]-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-2,3,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 101630502 | Click to see | 440.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 24,24-Dimethyllanosta-9(11),25-dien-3beta-ol | 102504569 | Click to see CC(CCC(C)(C)C(=C)C)C1CCC2(C1(CC=C3C2CCC4C3(CCC(C4(C)C)O)C)C)C | 454.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 4alpha,14alpha-Dimethyl-24-methylene-cholest-9(11)-en-3beta-ol | 5283648 | Click to see CC1C2CCC3C(=CCC4(C3(CCC4C(C)CCC(=C)C(C)C)C)C)C2(CCC1O)C | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,4S,5S,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-4,10,13,14-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 101630496 | Click to see | 442.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,4S,5S,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5S)-5-ethyl-6-methylhept-6-en-2-yl]-4,10,13,14-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-dodecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 101630497 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2(C1(CC=C3C2CCC4C3(CCC(C4C)O)C)C)C)C(=C)C | 440.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3S,5R,8S,10S,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5S)-5-ethyl-6-methylhept-6-en-2-yl]-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-2,3,5,6,7,8,12,15,16,17-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 101630504 | Click to see | 454.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Citrostadienol | 9548595 | Click to see | 426.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Stigmast-4-en-3-one | 5484202 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CCC4=CC(=O)CCC34C)C)C(C)C | 412.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides | |||||
| 5H-7,4-Methenofuro(3,2-c)oxireno(f)oxacycloundecin-5-one,1a,2,3,7,11,11a-hexahydro-8,11a-dimethyl-, (1aS,7R,11aS)- | 497202 | Click to see CC1=COC2=C1C3C=C(CCC4C(C2)(O4)C)C(=O)O3 | 260.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Linderalactone | 6450191 | Click to see | 244.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pseudoneolinderane | 57400551 | Click to see | 260.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Zeylanin | 12445041 | Click to see CC1=CC2=C(C3C=C(CCC1OC(=O)C)C(=O)O3)C(=CO2)C | 302.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dioxanes / 1,4-dioxanes | |||||
| 2H-10,1a-(Epoxymethano)oxireno(4,5)cyclodeca(1,2-b)furan-12-one, 3,6,10,10a-tetrahydro-5,9-methyl-, (1aS-(1aR*,4E,10R*,10aR*))- | 6450227 | Click to see | 260.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Flavanones / Flavanonols | |||||
| (2R,3S)-2-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-Trihydroxy-2,3-Dihydrochromen-4-One | 712318 | Click to see | 304.25 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| kaempferol 3-O-rhamnoside-7-O-glucoside | 90795788 | Click to see | 594.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |