finding american chestnut trees

[toad857]

Ever found one in the gorge? I've stumbled upon one at roadside, one at the zoo, and one in Muir valley. Anyone else ever seen one of these trees down there? It seems to be a good spot for them....

http://www.acf.org

[Rags]

I found one at Indian Creek a couple of years ago. right by the creek about 100 yards from the barn by the bridge.

[ynot]

There are lots. They don't get very big and the blight gets them. Such a shame. Chestnut was fine for making lots of things, and a pretty wood. There's a tiny one growing at the top of Party Time. The rangers are happy to tell you all about them.

[john e aragon]

ditto

[KD]

i keep giggling thinking about how they got their name - chestnut - god that's funny! ya get it? like chest and nuts! oh man! thats too funny - i gotta go pee!

[DriskellHR]

Well wise one tell us about them!! I did not know they were in the area. Are they Natural to the area (I assume so). And were they logged heavily back in the day.

[Rags]

apparently, most eastern forests were comprised of a heavy population of the american chestnut. one website offers that one in four trees was a chestnut but most were wiped out due to a blight (introduced from a Japanese chestnut) that decimated the population.
some root structures survived but have a hard time coming back.

a lot of chestnut trees grew to 100' with a 60' canopy and a 10' diameter.

[toad857]

American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was referred to as "the redwoods of the east". Most of the chestnuts that we find today are 3rd or 4th generation stump sprouts, meaning that they sprouted from the roots of a dead tree... i worked in ohio for the forest service and we very rarely found any chestnuts... they are definitely more common in the gorge.

[DriskellHR]

Thats an awsome pic man. Thanks for the school lesson!!

[Rags]

that is a cool pic! good thread!