American chestnut - Wikipedia
The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree of the beech family native to eastern North America. [3] As is true of all species in the genus Castanea, the American chestnut produces burred fruit with edible nuts. The American chestnut was once common in its Appalachian Mountain range and was a dominant ...
The fight for a fallen giant: Bringing back the American chestnut
May 3, 2024 · More than a century ago, the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was a common overstory tree across portions of eastern North American forests. These giants thrived on moist, well drained slopes and ridges across the Appalachians, towering more than 100 feet tall with an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of five to eight feet.
How to grow an American chestnut | US Forest Service
American chestnut thrived in eastern North American forests for thousands of years, but in the 20th century, an exotic fungus almost eliminated the species. To date, chestnut restoration has mostly meant breeding blight-resistant trees.
Restoring the iconic American chestnut | US Forest Service
Aug 1, 2024 · More than 60 American chestnut seedlings were planted by Forest Service employees and volunteers at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky, May 2, 2024. The trees were planted with multiple layers of protection to give them the best chance for survival in restoring the species.
The American Chestnut Foundation | Rooted in Restoration
The American Chestnut Foundation takes a holistic approach toward chestnut restoration, utilizing a three-pronged research strategy known as 3BUR (Breeding, Biotechnology, and Biocontrol United for Restoration).
What happened to the American chestnut tree? : Short Wave - NPR
Dec 25, 2024 · In the early 20th century, a blight fungus wiped out most of the 4 billion American chestnut trees on the eastern seaboard. The loss was ecologically devastating.
American Chestnut History | The American Chestnut Foundation
The American chestnut, Castanea dentata, once dominated portions of the eastern U.S. forests. (View the American chestnut range map .) Numbering nearly four billion, the tree was among the largest, tallest, and fastest-growing in these forests.
What it Takes to Bring Back the Near Mythical American ...
Apr 29, 2019 · Mature American chestnuts have been virtually extinct for decades. The tree’s demise started with something called ink disease in the early 1800s, which steadily killed chestnut in the southern portion of its range. The final blow happened at the turn of the 20th century when a disease called chestnut blight swept through Eastern forests.
American chestnut | The Morton Arboretum
The American chestnut was once the king of the forest. It was a magnificent tree used for lumber and for food. Chestnut blight began to decimate this species in the early 1900’s. The American chestnut is not extinct. It survives in the wild in the form of root systems and stump sprouts.
Insights - Saving the American chestnut tree
Mar 8, 2024 · Efforts to save the American chestnut include genetic modification, reducing the severity of blight and traditional breeding to develop a blight-resistant American chestnut tree.