China Chestnut

Any of several deciduous trees of the genus Castanea native to northern temperate regions, having alternate simple toothed leaves, and nuts that are enclosed in a prickly husk.The nuts are actually fruits, with the shells enclosing cotyledons. Trees bear both male and female flowers in late spring but must be cross-pollinated for nut production. Nuts are borne in a spiny involucre or bur that opens to release the nuts in late fall.