American Chestnut Story Actual American Chestnut Tree from Mt. Airy, MD nline/feature/chestnut/ Section Overview

“Redwoods of the East” Mature chestnuts could be 600 years old and average up to five feet in diameter and 100 feet tall Many specimens 8-10 feet in diameter

Historical Significance “…The most valuable and usable tree that ever grew in the Eastern United States.” Used for virtually everything, such as furniture, paneling, railroad ties, telegraph poles, and fuel. /chestnut/

Characteristics Fast growing – reached half ultimate height by 20 th year Only white pine and tulip poplar could grow taller Often grew branch free for 50 feet

Characteristics Fewer knots Straight-grained Lighter in weight

Range Maine to Georgia and west to Ohio and Tennessee Central Appalachian ridge tops appeared snow-capped in summer due to dense crowding of American Chestnuts’ creamy-white flowers line/feature/chestnut/

Habitat Common on moderate slopes and other moderately dry soils Can basically live in all soil types, as long as it is not too wet.

Ecological Importance Wildlife depended on the abundant crop of chestnuts (birds, bears, squirrels) Many species of insects fed on the leaves, flowers, and nuts Livestock, particularly pigs, used as a source of fat Humans used as a cash crop, especially around the holidays

Demise of the Native American Chestnut In 1904, cankers were evident in New York City By 1926, the fungus was reported throughout the native range Some trees were still blight free due to isolation until cankers were found in ure/chestnut/

Population of Chestnuts Today Logging Forest Fires The blight does not kill the roots, so many sprouts grow up from the stumps.

Sprouts from Old Stumps Sprouts will grow up from the stumps Many will die due to the blight and the cycle will repeat Some of the sprouts may become the size of a small tree

Present Source of Chestnut Lumber Bringing up submerged logs from lakes Recycle barns made of chestnut Recycle old buildings made of chestnut

Other types of Chestnut Trees Chinese – Japanese - nline/feature/chestnut/ ese+chestnut+tree&i e=UTF-8&oe=UTF- 8&hl=en