Chestnut

The Chestnut (Itarakoské: Kartulived) is a common tree which grows throughout the Lein Empire. Valued for its many uses, it was one of the earliest trees to be cultivated by the Tarakasane, and vast plantations of the tree are kept in many hilly regions of the Empire.

Name
The Itarakoské name for the tree literally means 'spiny fruit', from the fact that the outer covering of the chestnut fruit is spiny.

Description
There are several varieties of chestnut that are grown and cultivated within the Empire; these include: One of the most famous chestnut-dominated forests in the Empire is that of Chestnut Lake, an artificial lake planted with chestnut trees which adjoins Rugesena Palace and was used as a hunting ground by the Tairazuns of the Lein Dynasty. The trees, a mix of white and great chestnuts, were planted in order to attract game, and vast numbers of birds, wild boar, deer and other animals thrive within it.
 * The Red Chestnut, which is normally grown in the eastern coastal regions; it is a relatively small and fast growing tree, which can attain a height of between 8 to 12 metres.
 * The White Chestnut, named for its relatively pale bark, which is more often grown inland and is the most common variety of chestnut tree in the west and central Empire. It can attain a height of up to 20 metres.
 * The Great Chestnut, growing in the south along the watershed of the Ansarién, which can grow up to 50 metres in height. In the north, it is often cultivated as an impressive ornamental tree.