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American Chestnut: Castanea den tata Fagaceae |
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American Chestnut: Castanea den tata Fagaceae |
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Chestnut (Castanea spp.) contains about 7 to 12 species distributed in North America [4], Europe [1], and Asia [7]. The word castanea is the classical Greek and Latin name of chestnut. European chestnut (Castanea sativa) was introduced into England by the Romans, probably as food for domestic animals. North American chestnut trees were virtually wiped out by the fungus Endothia parasitica. The different species of chestnut hybridize with each other. All species look alike microscopically.
Other Common Names: chestnut, prickly O-heh-yah-bur, sweet chestnut, white chestnut, wormy chestnut.
Distribution: American chestnut’s preblight range extended from Maine west to Michigan and south to Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The major stands were in southern New England and the Appalachian Mountains. The finest timber came from the Appalachians.
The Tree: American chestnut used to grow to a height of 120 ft (37 m), with a diameter of 7 ft (2.1 m). Its ability to sprout from the cut or dead stump has kept this species in existence, temporarily, although the blight eventually kills the sprouts.
General Wood Characteristics: The narrow sapwood of chestnut is near white, while the heartwood is grayish brown to brown and darkens with age. The wood is coarse, intermediate in strength, light in weight, low in shock resistance, and of average hardness and moderate shrinkage. It can be kiln dried or air seasoned with minimal problems.
Weighta |
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Moisture content |
Specific gravity |
Weight |
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lb/ft3 |
kg/m3 |
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Green |
0.40 |
55 |
881 |
12% |
0.43 |
30 |
481 |
Ovendry |
0.45 |
NA |
NA |
Mechanical propertiesa
Property |
Green |
Dry |
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MOE |
0.93 x 106 lbf/in2 |
6.412 GPa |
1.23 x 106 lbf/in2 |
8.481 GPa |
MOR |
5.60 x 103 lbf/in2 |
38.612 MPa |
8.60 x 103 lbf/in2 |
59.297 MPa |
C| | |
2.47 x 103 lbf/in2 |
17.031 MPa |
5.32 x 103 lbf/in2 |
36.681 MPa |
C ⊥ |
0.31 x 103 lbf/in2 |
2.137 MPa |
0.62 x 103 lbf/in2 |
4.275 MPa |
WML |
7.0 in-lbf/in3 |
48.265 kJ/m3 |
6.5 in-lbf/in3 |
44.818 kJ/m3 |
Hardness |
420 lbf |
1868.16 N |
540 lbf |
2401.92 N |
Shear| | |
0.80 x 103 lbf/in2 |
5.516 MPa |
1.08 x 103 lbf/in2 |
7.446 MPa |
aReference (98).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage (green to final moisture content)
Type of shrinkage 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
Tangential 6.7 5.4 2.2
Radial 3.4 2.7 1.1
Volumetric 11.6 9.3 3.9
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20% MC, (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4, 6/4 8/4 10/4 12/4 16/4
Condition stock stock stock stock stock
Standard T10-E4 T8-E3 NA NA NA
Working Properties: Chestnut is easy to work with tools and is easily glued. Because it splits readily, care is required in nailing.
Durability: Rated as very resistant to heartwood decay. Preservation: No information available at this time.
Uses: Lumber, tannin extract, furniture, caskets, boxes, crates, core stock for plywood, poles, railroad ties, pulpwood, shingles, barrel staves, mine timbers, fuelwood.
Toxicity: No information available at this time.
Additional Reading: 29, 55, 68, 74, 81.
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