Oddbean new post about | logout
▲ ▼
Bryan Wright | 1 years ago (raw) | export | reply | flag 
 A chestnut I found on the ground. I don't know what species it is, but the tree is growing in someone's yard.

These are very tempting to pick up ("So fuzzy!"), but very, very sharp ("Ouch!").

#plants #trees #photography

https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/111/023/505/482/115/534/original/8a488e2e0316077d.jpg

https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/111/023/505/916/966/395/original/b5f57f28aec093a3.jpg
▲ ▼
bd6866eb | 1 years ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 @fb2b7c61
I guess this isn't a horse chestnut?  Inside is a shiny brown 'conker' that kids (and not just kids)  collect. 
But I'm sure you know conkers and horse chestnuts. So this is probably not what it is.  (The little flowers are gorgeous, though not often noticed.)
▲ ▼
e7789c94 | 1 years ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 @fb2b7c61 
When I was a little girl, we would find some species or other of chestnut like this in the little woods on our school grounds at recess and make them our "pets." I remember elaborate stories we invented about the transformations that would occur when their spiky layers started to dry and peel open. 

These are so particularly bright & urchin-y!
▲ ▼
Joel Krampus Meador 🌰 | 1 years ago (raw) | root | parent | reply | flag 
 @fb2b7c61 If you go back by the tree take a picture of the leaves and trunk and tree form, and post a picture of the chestnuts from the bur if you see any. It's probably Castanea mollissima, but there are some Castanea dentata around, too. If the bur was very small it might have been Castanea pumila, which also grows in the area.