An uncommon large shrub or small tree found on dry soil. The leaves are elongate and toothed, similar to the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), but smaller and with less pronounced teeth.
Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
Flowers are arranged in catkins, which are up to 15 cm long. These are staminate (male) catkins.
Brunswick Co., NC 5/15/04.
Same tree as above. Chinkapin leaves are usually less than 15 cm long and tomentose (fuzzy) beneath; American Chestnut leaves are usually longer and smoooth. All the various species and varieties of Chinkapin found in North Carolina, as listed in Radford et. al. (1968), are all now lumped into C. pumila.
Brunswick Co., NC 5/15/04.
Chinkapin catkins typically have clusters of pistillate (female) flowers towards the base, followed by staminate flowers. The longer catkins in the back are all staminate.
Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/05.
This catkin has 7 pistillate flowers towards the base, followed by staminate flowers.
Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/05.
Staminate catkins. The dark specks on the flowers are beetles.
Alleghany Co., NC 7/3/05.
Like American Chestnuts, the nuts are encased in spiny burs.
Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
Mature fruits.
Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
Bark of a small stem.
Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.
