Delaware Online: “After the species was devastated by an Asian blight in the early 20th century, a single American chestnut tree in Centreville has been deemed a “precious resource” by the Delaware Nature Society. Jim White, a senior fellow at the Delaware Nature Society, said the tree discovered at Coverdale Farm Preserve is the largest and oldest he’s seen in his 50-year career. “For people who are interested in trees, that’s kind of a holy grail-type thing, to see a big American chestnut,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything that size anywhere, and very few people have.” The tree is estimated to be about 50 years old and 70 feet tall, with a circumference of at least 35 inches, White said…” [h/t/ Jim D]

• See also USDA – “Mature American chestnuts have been virtually extinct for decades. The tree’s demise started with something called ink disease in the early 1800s, which steadily killed chestnut in the southern portion of its range. The final blow happened at the turn of the 20th century when a disease called chestnut blight swept through Eastern forests. The disappearance of the chestnut launched a profound change in the structure and composition of eastern forests…”
• See also Forest Wildlife: “The American chestnut tree was once a majestic species – one of the tallest and quickest-growing trees in the country. But what was once a valuable food and wood source for the United States was all but wiped out by a devastating disease. In this article, we’ll discuss what killed the American chestnut tree, and what scientists are doing to try and save it…”
• See also Washington Post – “Gene editing could revive a nearly lost tree. Not everyone is on board. Saving the American chestnut could restore a piece of history, resurrect a lost ecosystem and combat climate change. But critics say it would come at a cost.”