The chestnut leaved oak is developing distinctive fruits alongside Bateson Walk.
Originating from the Caucasus and Iran, Quercus castaneifolia occurs in humid forests at altitudes up to 2000m. Rarely cultivated it is deciduous or semi-evergreen in habit, and has black bark when young, which develops to dark grey and can take on a ridged texture. The slender leaves have up to 12 serrated or gently waved teeth, a shiny, dark green upper surface, and a grey-green lower surface covered in fine hairs. The flattened fruits are held in cups covered in reflexed scales, and these are initially fleshy, becoming woody with age. Q. castaneifolia was introduced to Britain in 1843, and this specimen was grown from seed collected in Georgia by our previous Director, Dr Donald Pigott.