The Importance of the American Chestnut

Student ObjectivesFriday, April 21, 2023

After today’s lesson, you will be able to:• Gain an understanding of the ecological

importance of the American chestnut tree and;• Realize the significance of the loss of the

American chestnut tree population.

Warm-Up

• On average, an American Chestnut tree produced 6,000 nuts. On average, 100 nuts weighed 10 pounds.– What do you predict that the nuts were used

for?– If Carroll County had 10,000 trees, how many

pounds of nuts were produced annually?

Today’s Activities

• Charlie Chestnut webquest

• BCR about the importance of this massive tree

Historical Significance• “…The most valuable and

usable tree that ever grew in the Eastern United States.”– But why was it so valuable??

• Click, Navigate, Read and LEARN!

http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/chestnut/

• Using the following webpage to record ways that support the idea that the American Chestnut was so valuable.

Ecological Importance• Wildlife depended on the abundant crop of

chestnuts (birds, bears, squirrels)• Many species of insects fed on the leaves,

flowers, and nuts• Livestock, particularly pigs, used the nuts as

a source of fat• Humans used as a cash crop, especially

around the holidays– Roasted and eaten

Economic Importance

• Throughout much of the range chestnut had the most timber volume of any species

– Half the standing timber volume of CT

• Was the major source of tannin for leather production (6-11 % tannin content which conditions the leather)

• Chestnuts (the actual nuts)

“From cradle to casket…”The Chestnut was widely used for furniture

• Posts & railroad ties

• Telephone poles (65 feet)

• Construction

• Fuel

• Fine furniture & musical instruments

The Range of the Chestnut(Where you are, is where they WERE!!)

• Maine to Georgia and west to Ohio and Tennessee

• Central Appalachian ridge tops appeared snow-capped in summer due to dense crowding of American Chestnuts’ creamy-white flowers

http://www.apsnet.org/online/feature/chestnut/

Sum it all up

1. Name three important uses of the American Chestnut.

2. What happened to the American Chestnut?