PA-TACF
Pennsylvania Chapter
The American Chestnut Foundation
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There is a constant need for fresh American chestnut pollen and nuts to keep the restoration program supplied. We depend upon our members and volunteers across the region to find, identify and document the locations of both individual trees and groups of trees. The locator form (pdf) is used to communicate tree data to the Chapter. Many American chestnut trees are found where there has been a clear-cut lumbering operation. The native chestnuts spring up from the stump sprouts because the blight does not seem to harm them. Old survivors are sought as well for their potential to hold some blight resistance.  Old survivor
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There are many hybrid American chestnuts and our chapter identification screening program helps to define those that are acceptable for the breeding program. Our screening includes an evaluation of the physical characteristics and a microscopic examination.
If you’d like us to analyze a tree you have found, or you think it would be useful to our program, please fill out a tree locator form (pdf) or call our office at 814-863-7192 to request a form, and send a leaf and twig sample to us -- we'll ID it and, hopefully, be able to use the tree in our program. Please fill out as much of the form as possible. We need location information, size, and whether or not it is fruiting.
Along with the completed form, send us a freshly-cut 4-6 inch twig with mature leaves attached. The sample would preferably be from a part of the tree that receives a lot of sun. Press leaves between cardboard to flatten and prevent curling or crushing as it dries. To prevent mold, do not put the sample into a plastic bag. Crushed or bent leaves are much harder to analyze, as are leaves that are not freshly collected. Spring or summer is the best time to collect samples for identification purposes.
Once the tree's background is established by one of our identifiers, we will let you know the results. You will get your results within about 3 weeks after mailing. Thank you!
814-863-7192 phone | mail@patacf.org