ɪn sˌʌm ˈiː.dʒˈiː. kæstˈeɪniə, ðə skˈeɪlz ɑːɹ dɪvˈɛləpt ˌɪntʊ ʃˈɑːɹp spˈaɪnz, ɡˈɪvɪŋ ðə nˈʌt pɹətˈɛkʃən fɹʌm skwˈɜːlz ænd ˈʌðɚ sˈiːd pɹˈɛdəɾɚz, wˌaɪl ɪn ˈʌðɚz ˈiː.dʒˈiː. mˈoʊst kwˈɜːkəs, ðeɪ ɑːɹ nˈɑːt.
In some (e.g. Castanea), the scales are developed into sharp spines, giving the nut protection from squirrels and other seed predators, while in others (e.g. most Quercus), they are not.