Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fagales
Family: Fagaceae
The American Chestnut, or Castanea dentata, is a dicot of the Beech family. The leaves of the American Chestnut are simple, long and narrow. They are coarse-toothed and range from 4-8” in length. The twigs are hairless and brownish. The bark is dark with wide-toothed ridges. The tree flowers from May through August and in September and October, its fruiting structures grow and fall. These are distinctive for their prickly green husks when fresh that pop open to reveal multiple chestnuts inside. American Chestnut trees used to reach 60-100’ in height with a diameter of 2-4’ but now the trees do not grow past 15’ and 17” in diameter, due to a fungal blight (see following paragraphs for more information). When the tree reaches this size, the blight infects and kills it. Our chestnut tree is nearing this size; soon we will learn if it is blight resistant!
The American Chestnut is a wonderful example of American tenacity and the value of education and science. The chestnut used to be one of the dominant species in the Eastern Appalachian forest. This tree was valuable because of its high quality lumber, edible nuts, and tannins used for tanning leather. Unfortunately, in 1904 (the same year this college was founded!), a blight began to spread throughout the forests that infected almost every single American Chestnut within two decades. This blight was a fungus named Endothia parasitica that spread from Asian Chestnut trees brought to U.S. tree nurseries.
Scientists have been working to breed a blight-resistant strain of the American Chestnut. Presently there are around twelve strains that show blight resistance. These strains are being planted to see if they can survive until maturity. Our college has an adolescent American Chestnut tree that may be that long awaited line! This tree is planted in a prime location to represent its significance: it is planted in between the Green Mountain Dining Hall, reflecting its importance as a food source for animals and humans, and the Chapel, reflecting how it is part of the American spirit.
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