By Isidora Ferguson | March 19 2021 |
American Chestnut
Critically Endangered
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Related to:
European Sweet chestnut, Chinese chestnut, Japanese chestnut Uses:
The chestnuts once were sold as snacks on the streets playing an important economic resource in North America. Indigenous groups used various parts of the chestnut as treatments to ailments. (E.g. whooping cough, heart conditions, chafed skin) The nuts were once in such a high abundance that they were fed to livestock.
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As indicated by its name, the American Chestnut can only be found in the United States and Canada ranging from Maine and Southern Ontario to Mississippi, and from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachian Mountains and the Ohio valley. It grows up to 30 meters in height and 3 meters in diameter and is even considered the finest chestnut tree in the world.
This species is at risk of extinction due to a fungal disease, chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), which was introduced from East Asia. Unlike the American Chestnut, the Chinese Chestnut trees have an increased immunity towards the blight. In an attempt to restore and protect the American chestnut tree, cross-breeding and genetically engineering the tree's genes are being developed to play a crucial role in its conservation. Find out more about the restoration of the American Chestnut here.
To learn more about tree species at risk in Ontario visit CLC Tree Services or to find out all of the species at risk in Ontario visit Ontario Species at Risk
Sources:
Just planted a hybrid Japanese / American Chestnut & it has started putting out leaves. Fingies Crossed! Mr. S