Boston Flora

Tag: Castanea dentata

  • Saturday, March 30, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm – The American Chestnut: When Will It Flourish Again?

    The American chestnut could be the first tree ever restored to its native forest after suffering from a devastating airborne blight in the early 1900s that killed billions of trees.

    Join The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University on Ssturday, March 30 from 9 – 12:30 for a thought-provoking gathering as experts share perspectives on the history of American chestnut (Castanea dentata), its significance as a forest species, and subsequent decimation by an invasive blight pathogen, Cryphonectria parasitica. Ongoing research in blight tolerance and the addition of blight-tolerant genes are the prognosis for this tree’s future.

    Special speakers include:

    • Dr. David Foster, Director of the Harvard Forest

    • Ms. Sara Fitzsimmons, Director of Restoration at The American Chestnut Foundation

    • Dr. William Powell, Professor and Director of Council on Biotechnology and Forestry at State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry

    • Dr. Jared Westbrook, Director of Science at The American Chestnut Foundation

    A panel discussion will follow the lectures:

    Introduction by Ms. Lisa Thomson, President and CEO of The American Chestnut Foundation

    Panel participants will include each speaker as well as Edward Faison, Senior Ecologist at Highstead Arboretum

    Fee $20 per person (Free for students).Event takes place at the Arnold Arboretum’s WELD HILL RESEARCH BUILDING, 1300 Centre Street, Roslindale, MA

    Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

    Image result for american chestnut tree

  • Monday, April 17, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – The New American Chestnut

    Much work has gone into attempting to bring back the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), decimated by the exotic chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) beginning in the late 1800s. Breeding by crossing and back-crossing with Japanese and Chinese species has produced positive results, but genetic engineering is proving more viable. William A. Powell, MD, PhD, Director, Council on Biotechnology in Forestry, SUNY, Environmental Science and Forestry and Co-Director, New York State American Chestnut Research and Restoration Program, has been involved in transgenic research that has produced a tree that is 99.999% American chestnut, and will speak about this work and the possibilities for reviving a species once ubiquitous in eastern North American forests. The New American Chestnut lecture will take place Monday, April 17 beginning at 7 pm in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum.  Fee: Free for Arboretum members and students, $10 nonmembers. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.  Image from www.nature.com.