|
| Castanea dentata
American chestnutCulture: Chestnut blight has almost eliminated this native eastern U.S. species from millions of acres of nearly pure stands. The largest survivors include scattered specimens outside of its main native range. The species continues to re-sprout in native woodlands, only to be attacked by the blight as it re-grows. The causative organism is Endothia parasitica, a wind-borne fungus that penetrates bark cracks and crotches of small branches where wood-boring beetles feed. It was formerly a very long-lived tree. A search continues for resistant trees. Current strategy is to utilize hybrids with chestnut blight resistant European or Asian species. The genus is names after the Castanea region of northern Greece, an area knows for its trees. |
|
