ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the information on uses, folk medicine, chemistry, germplasm, distribution, ecol-ogy, cultivation, harvesting, yields, energy, and biotic factors of Castanea Crenata Sieb, and Zucc. Kernel of nut used as food by Chinese and Japanese, both for humans and for fattening swine. Nut shell extract, bur, and bark used for staining. Male flower used to stain cloth a red-brown color. Reported from the China-Japan Center of Diversity, Japanese chestnut, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate disease, frost, and slope. Native to Japan and Korea. Much planted in Japan for the nuts. Introduced and extensively planted in southern Europe for timber. Introduced to the US in 1876. Hardy as far north as Massachusetts. Trees propagated by whip-grafting to American chestnut (C. dentata). American species usually cut down, and the sprouts springing from the remaining roots, when 1.3 to 2 cm in diameter, are grafted with desired varieties of Japanese chestnut.
