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FAGACEAE - - Beech Family
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American Chestnut (Castanea dentata): Formerly one of the most important, largest, and most abundant forest trees in the Mountains of our area, C. dentata was severely affected by chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr, introduced at New York City in 1904 on nursery stock of C. mollissima. Blight spread steadily southward, reaching our area in the 1920's and 1930's. C. dentata remains rather abundant, but now occurs only as stump sprouts and small trees, usually reinfected by blight persisting on oaks and killed at about the size of first fruit production. The accidental introduction of chestnut blight and the subsequent profound alteration of the role of chestnut is one of the most tragic ecological disasters to have affected our area. (Weakley, Alan, "Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States," Working Draft of 21 May 2015)
On rich, well-drained soil from lowlands to elevations over 4,000'; usually occurring in association with other hardwoods.
The original native range of Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)
The native range of Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)
Kartesz, J.T., The Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2015. North American Plant Atlas. (http://bonap.net/napa). Chapel Hill, N.C. [maps generated from Kartesz, J.T. 2015. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP). (in press)].
The Georgia range of Castanea dentata (American Chestnut)
Zomlefer, W.B., J.R. Carter, & D.E. Giannasi. 2014 (and ongoing). The Atlas of Georgia Plants. University of Georgia Herbarium (Athens, Georgia) and Valdosta State University Herbarium (Valdosta, Georgia). Available at: http://www.georgiaherbaria.org/.
Guide to the Trees of North Georgia and Adjacent States
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