Mr. Flower and I had the good fortune of finding a full grown American Chestnut tree during our travels in the Appalachian Mountains yesterday. Finding one is rare due to the Chestnut blight which started around 1904 and wiped out billions of the Castanea dentata species. This tree was dominant in the Appalachian Mountains before the blight of the Asian Bark Fungus/Cryphonectria parasitica arrived.

The fungal disease was believed to have been imported from Japan on some Japanese chestnut trees which are resistant. The American Chestnut’s demise affected atleast 60 different species of wildlife that counted on the American Chestnut trees for food.

Various methods have been used to restore populations. Researchers have done intercrossing and backcrossing with with the trees that have survived. Some genetic modification has been tried using a gene from wheat.

We were thrilled to find this tree and see its mean, green burred fruit with an enclosed nut.

FLOWER