The Maryland Native Plant Society

The Maryland Native Plant Society
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  • MNPS Meeting: "American Chestnut: Past Abundance and Future Restoration"

MNPS Meeting: "American Chestnut: Past Abundance and Future Restoration"

  • 03/28/2006
  • 7:30 PM
  • White Oak Library

The American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) was formerly one of the largest, most abundant, and most important trees of eastern deciduous forests, ranging from southern Maine west to Michigan and south to Alabama.  The Chestnut Blight (Cryphonectria parasitica), which was unknowingly introduced into New York City on Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) nursery stock in the early 20th Century, quickly spread through forests, girdling mature trees at the base.  Today, most of what remains of the tree throughout its range are old trunk resprouts and small saplings, with mature, fruiting trees exceptionally rare.  Doug Boucher, a forest ecologist and instructor at Hood College, will discuss the great importance of American Chestnut in our eastern forests, how forests and wildlife were affected as a result of the blight, and possibilities for future restoration of this species.

There will be a planning meeting for the MNPS Annual Fall Conference before the meeting starting at 6:00pm. If you are interested in being on the Steering Committee or otherwise assisting with the conference, please come. If you can not attend, but wish to help, please contact Carole Bergmann, carolebergmann @ hotmail.com.

Location: White Oak Library - Large Meeting Room

Directions: Exit the Washington Beltway at New Hampshire Ave (exit 28). Go north about 2 miles. The library is the first building on the right, once you have passed under Route 29, just after the Sears store.

There will be refreshments and door prizes. Pot luck refreshments are always welcome.

The meeting is open to non-members.

Meetings take place on the last Tuesday of each month.

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