Castanea is confined to the northern hemisphere, and is widely distributed through eastern North America, southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern Asia, and central and northern China, Korea, and Japan. Seven species are distinguished. In the countries of the Mediterranean Basin much attention has been given to improving the fruit of the native species _Castanea sativa_ Mill., which is occasionally planted in the middle United States; in Japan the seeds of _Castanea crenata_ S. & Zucc. in many varieties and in China those of _Castanea mollissima_ Bl. are important articles of food. Castanea produces coarse-grained wood very durable in contact with the soil, and rich in tannin. Chestnut-trees suffer in the eastern United States from the attacks of a fungus, _Endothia parasitica_ Anders. which has nearly exterminated them in many parts of the country. _Castanea_ is the classical name of the Chestnut-tree. CONSPECTUS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES. Involucre of the fruit containing 2 or 3 flattened nuts. 1. C. dentata (A, C). Involucre of the fruit containing a single terete nut. Involucre of the fruit densely covered with spines; branchlets hoary tomentose. 2. C. pumila (A, C). Involucre of the fruit covered with scattered spines; branchlets glabrous or sparingly pilose. 3. C. alnifolia (C). 1. Castanea dentata Borkh. Chestnut. [Illustration: Fig. 216]