Castanea dentata -(Marsh.) Borkh.-
chestnut


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Castanea dentata -(Marsh.) Borkh.-

Common Name: chestnut

Myaamia Name: maamišimiši

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Summer, Fall, Spring

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Beech-Maple Forest, Oak Forest including Oak-Hickory, Beech-Oak-Maple Mixed Mesophytic

Uses: Food, Medicinal

Locations: Undetermined

Sources

Pease, T. C. and R. C. Werner 1934

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

"There are Indian chestnuts of admirable beauty full of nuts bigger and finer than those of Lyons. There is no one who on seeing them does not believe them to be excellent." They were reportedly very bitter, even after cooking on a fire ("Il y a des maroniers d'inde d'une beaute a admirer remplies de marons plus gros et plus beaux que ceux de lion, il ny a personne en les voyant qui ne croient qu'ils soient Excellentes . . . j'en  mordis un croyant manger le meilleur maron du monde, mais je fus bien paye de ma Curiosite car je fus plus d'un quart d'heure sans pouvoir m'oster l'amertume qu'il m'avoit laisse a la bouche").

Comments: N/A

Lamb, E.W. and Shultz, L.W 1964

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

Leaves used for coughs, especially whooping coughs.

Comments: N/A

Le Boullenger, Antoine-Robert, S.J. 1719-1744

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

mamichimina, chestnut fruits

Comments: N/A

Gleason, H.A. and Cronquist, A. 1991

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Originally occurred on acid upland soils throughout eastern Myaamia lands, but now almost eliminated due to blight.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

LeBoullenger and Pinet have "mamichimina" for chestnut, and Thornton has "mamishiminjeh" for chestnut tree.

Comments: N/A

Bush, L. L 1996

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

Human-charred chestnut nutshell and nutmeat material were recovered from an early 19th century Myaamia village site at the forks of the Wabash River.

Comments: N/A

Thornton, W. 1802

Reference Type: Use - Food

Archival Data:

mamishiminjeh, chestnut tree

Comments: N/A

Legends

  • L.: L. stands for Carl Linneaus, a Swedish botanist and zoologist living from 1707 - 1778, who formed the binomial nomenclature system for scientific naming of species (the two part name). His initial after a scientific name indicates he was the authority for that species name.
  • sp.: Indicates the actual species name cannot or need not be specified. Example: Lilium sp. indicates a single species in the genus Lilium that is not known or does not need to be specified.
  • spp.: (plural) indicates "several species", two or more species of the given genus. Example: Lilium spp. indicates 2 or more species in the genus that cannot or do not need to be distinguished.
  • Use - Unknown: A record for this plant exists but does not include explicit information about the plant's cultural use. It is probable the Myaamia used the plant.
  • Botanical Sources: Sources of any botanical data for this plant species that is not related to its cultural use or significance.
  • Related Sources: Data indirectly related to Myaamia ethnobotany, including non-Myaamia uses of the plant in contemporary and historic times.
  • Myaamia Archival Sources: All records of plant use obtained directly from a Myaamia tribal member in an interview, recorded by a second party or by self-recording.
  • Undetermined (Plant Use): There exists use or other information about a certain, unknown plant species, but the specific species has not yet been determined.
  • Medicinal: For the purposes of this database, medicinal uses of plants and medicinal knowledge are defined as: Commonly held communal knowledge regarding the use of plant-based substances that aid in maintaining a healthy mind, body or spirit, including tonics and teas.
  • Technology: For the purposes of this database, technological uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in the making of food processing, canoes, rafts, dyes, tools, utensils, weapons, hunting and fishing gear (i.e. net, weir, etc.), cordage, string, rope, fodder plant species, firewood, any plants used in trade, etc.
  • Material: For the purposes of this database, material uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in construction of dwellings (floor mats, roofing, side walls), furniture, baskets, storage items, musical instruments, games, crafts, jewelry, cordage used in crafts, etc.
  • Food: For the purposes of this database, food uses of plants are defined as: Plants used as consumed food, spices and seasonings, but not teas or tonics.
  • Customs: For the purposes of this database, customary uses of plants are defined as: Plants involved in a customary ceremony, ritual or traditional event, including ritual smoking, chewing tobacco, war rituals, special mats used to sit on during ceremonies. Customary uses of plants, in this database, does not including plants used for recreation (material), structures where ceremonies take place (material) or medicinal smoking (medicinal).
  • Eastern Myaamia Lands: Eastern Myaamia lands (eastern myaamionki) are centered around northern Indiana, and including western Ohio, eastern Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northernmost portions of Kentucky.
  • Western Myaamia Lands: Western Myaamia lands (western myaamionki) include western Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.