Chestnuts in Montgomery Co PA

Chestnuts in Montgomery Co., PA

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TOPIC: Chestnuts in Montgomery Co. Pa.
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/t/9731c3173f203ce6?hl=en
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== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Mon, Nov 17 2008 8:00 pm
From: "George Fieo"

ENTS,

Back in August I found some chestnut trees growing in a farm park located in
Montgomery Co. I took a leaf home to ID the trees and am almost certain
they are American chestnuts. Today I visited the park to take a few
measurements and photos of the trees. There are about 15 to 20 trees that I
believe are reproducing due to their various sizes. The larger of the trees
may have suffered from the blight, lower limbs are dead, but show signs of
healing. The younger trees look very healthy. I did three measurements on
the largest chestnut. It has two leaders very low to the ground so I
measured 8'7" @ ground level and then at 4.5' for each leader and got 4'3"
and 4'5". There are a handful of trees in the 2' cbh range and a few more
saplings. Most of the trees are between 35' and 45' tall. Lots of burrs on
the ground but found only three half eaten nuts. Ran out of time, had to
get back to work.

George.

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 1:24 am
From: James Parton

George,

Nice chestnuts! It is great to see so many in one place. The growth
form reminds me of Asian chestnut but American trees can be more bushy
and less straight if open-grown. It looks like one of the trees has a
tall straight form.

James P.

== 2 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 4:52 am
From: "Will Blozan"

George,

Looks like some kind of non-native species. Man, the blight has hit them
hard!

Will F. Blozan

President, Eastern Native Tree Society
President, Appalachian Arborists, Inc.

== 3 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 1:15 pm
From: James Parton

George & Will,

The trees remind me somewhat of European Chestnut. They are
Americanlike in some ways but still different than our native
chestnut. The burrs on these seem a little more " course " than the
American ones I am used to seeing. European chestnuts are also blight
vulnerable. Chinese and Japanese trees are quite resistant. I cannot
outright say they are not American without seeing more of them, like a
green leaf, but like the Dillingham chestnuts of Big Ivy, they look a
little different than the typical Chestnuts I usually find in the
woods.

James.

PS. American or not, it is a great find.

== 4 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 5:37 pm
From: "George Fieo"

James,

I do have a few more pics and one of the leaves I picked back in August.
It's dry but still green. Maybe it could help. Are the flowers any easier
to ID ? I can go back when they start blooming.

George.

== 5 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 5:34 pm
From: James Parton

George.

The leaves are not as elongated as most I see. The serrations are not
as prominent as some. Most Am Chestnuts have long elliptical leaves
with prominent serrated edges.

Will?

James P.

== 6 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 6:09 pm
From: "Steve Galehouse"

I agree with James-the foliage is not as narrowly elliptical as the typical
American chestnut, and seems to be of firmer texture--the American chestnuts
I'm familiar with have more narrow, more distinctively serrate foliage with
a parchment-like texture, and generally have an appearance I would describe
as "elegant".

Steve

== 7 of 10 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 18 2008 7:31 pm
From: Randy Brown

All,

Here's a couple of comparison pictures of bark and leaves of american
versus an asian species (not sure which):

American:

Asian:
Leaves: There are fewer teeth in the asia leaves especially near the tip.
Bark. On the asian species it's noticeably more yellow and flaky.
Compared to american has more of a reticulated platy look. Also
notice it is bright green, shiny and smooth on
young trees and more of a neutral gray cast on the older trees.

== 10 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Nov 19 2008 12:51 am
From: James Parton

George,

Chinese Chestnut leaves are often light colored on the underside and
the underside often has a fuzzy texture to it. The leaves tend to be
thicker than American Chestnut. This is said to be more pronounced in
open-grown trees.

JP

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