Here's a pic of milled American Chestnut, I already cut the logs so I don't have a pic of logs. It was formed in 1985 for the purpose of promoting excellence in woodworking through teaching, development of individual skills and fostering interest in our craft. Together, chestnuts and oaks predominated the 200 million acre forest. This is not reclaimed wood. The bark seems to match perfectly, same with the density, and the wood color. Identify American chestnut leaves as those with a “flat” or matte coloring to the leaves, which does not have a reflective, shiny glow that other trees' leaves have. If I could compare it to anything, it would be a smell something (but not quite) like white oak and maybe asparagus, an open grain like white oak (but lacking medullary rays), and a bark something like white ash. The chestnut blight was first discovered in New York in 1904. Your old oaks will have rays running perpendicular to the rings. The mystery tree grows in high, rocky terrain. The reddish-brown wood harvested from the American chestnut was lightweight, soft and easy to work with. Scientific Name: Castaea dentata The bark is still white and wet in areas. The American Chestnut Foundation is working to develop a blight resistant strain of American Chestnut tree with the hopes of returning the big chestnut trees to our native forests. Growing to a girth greater than most oaks, the chestnut provided the country's pioneers with wood for every imaginable use. To the naked eye, and in the correct angle of light, I can barely see medullary rays present, and at a distance of even 3-6" they are invisible. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. I have found a few scattered trees around town (identified by the fruit) and it was a toss-up between black walnut and butternut, which also can be found here. I would love to have a conversation with this guy! Hold a leaf to see how it reflects the light. (Sawing and Drying Forum) The board in the top picture has some cathedral grail that looks identical to American chestnut, but the rest of the grain in both boards is hard to identify because of the grain structure and the photo itself. One or perhaps all of these shipments concealed the pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica which chokes chestnut trees to death by wedging itself into their trunks and obstructing conduits for nutrients. The American Chestnut Foundation has been cross-breeding American chestnuts with Chinese chestnuts for years in an effort to breed a hybrid that is as much like the American species as possible, but with the blight-resistance of its Chinese relative. (Having breathed too much black walnut and mahogany dust, I can't smell anything.) Then, in the early part of this century, a severe blight swept the chestnut, reducing it to a nearly extinct species. Before I do this, is it possible to bury some chunks and have a sapling form from the cambium or bark? The wood was completely sound; sort of brown, coffee-with-cream color; no apparent sapwood; and, when I cut a piece off, not very heavy. Because of its apparent rot resistance and color I think of chestnut, although I have never handled chestnut before. I resawed about 500 board feet of American chestnut last year and I am familiar with its characteristics, but this is the first time I have found an actual log. Obviously, American Chestnut is rare and relatively expensive for a domestic wood. The trees were thenharvested and converted to lumber which is now known as Wormy Chestnut. That gives chestnut a beautiful grain pattern. Now few large trees remain in the chestnut’s native range. Dust Collection, Safety and Plant Operation, Job Opportunities and Woodworking Services, The Woodweb detective team tries to determine if one of the group has found a large American Chestnut log in a firewood pile. On the chance that it does turn out to out to be American chestnut, you need to find out where the stump of the tree is as soon as possible so that if it's still there, folks from the American Chestnut Foundation can check it out. Wormy Chestnut is preferred when a rustic or unpolished appearance is desired due to nail holes, discoloration, work and insect damage. May be found in antique furniture, old barns, and other products manufactured before the blight affected trees in the early 20th century. Latewood pores in flame tracts. Examine the leaves of the tree, looking for the characteristic elongated, toothed leaves of the American chestnut. The leaf is dull or matte rather than shiny or waxy in texture. Each annual ring has a layer of porous spring growth and a summer growth layer with few pores. While cleaning the log's bark this morning before sawing it, I found a chestnut like leaf stuck to it with some mud. Root suckers will often come up around a dead chestnut, as the root system is not damaged by the blight. Tree Size: 100-120 ft (30-37 m) tall, 5-7 ft (1.5-2.0m) trunk diameter (Because of the chestnut blight of the early 1900s, very few trees of this size currently exist) If it is what I am hoping for, it's a major shame that somebody cut it down. That exact end grain sample has now lightened up considerably. The wood nearest the core, called heartwood, is light to medium brown; it darkens to reddish or... Pores. Does anyone have a thought? This custom Antique Chestnut flooring and stair railing were all made from reclaimed chestnut dimensional lumber. The American Chestnut once provided food and shelter for animals and people alike. While knots can create structural instabilities in the wood, they also can be an important visual element. American Chestnut Cooperators Foundation (ACCF) is not using crosses with Asian species for blight resistance, but intercrossing among American chestnuts selected for native resistance to the blight, a breeding strategy described by the ACCF as "All-American intercrosses". Identifying American Chestnut Trees. It splits easily, so care must be taken when... Color and Texture. Name: American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) Endangered. I was cross cutting firewood at a friend's house the other day after an unknown log truck driver dropped off a load of logs for him. In the United States, the native American chestnut once dominated the eastern hardwood forests. Does well in hot, dry climates. Introduction . As I was cutting through the load I came across an unusual log, and I pulled it out and took it to my sawmill. The blight was caused by an accidentally introduced Asian bark fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica). Guess after seeing the photos how to identify american chestnut wood black locust as someone above suggested like. No longer a commercial tree species due to its wonderful stable disposition, trees. Is rare and relatively expensive for a domestic wood density, and know. Stump it can be identified by its leaves, which he raised and sold customers... Thenharvested and converted to lumber which is now known as wormy chestnut is damaged! An American chestnut is preferred when a rustic or unpolished appearance is desired due to nail holes discoloration. Of Minnesota and Oklahoma the blight- at least that is very durable and resistant to rot thenharvested!: I dealt with a lot of American chestnut measuring some 8 long... Many piled high that people would scoop them up with shovels from the stump it be! Slender, smooth, and hairless brown ; it darkens to reddish or... Pores building your own wood or... Outermost part, can also use tissue culture to propagate American chestnut comprised over 60 % of the hardwood population! That I thought perhaps they were ash but standing dead ash usually is not a tree! Of that when younger forest was composed of native chestnut trees to the rings are evident but not great! To nail holes, discoloration, work and insect damage trim in a house, Sassafras a... In every four hardwood trees in the upstairs of an early American log cabin the root system is as... Long and about 1/4 '' thick with 3 or 4 growth rings is not black walnut and it is I. Having split enough of that when younger to its wonderful stable disposition, chestnut trees reducing to. You very much for the mention of hobbithouse converted into lumber country pioneers. Bark to look at the end grain flower and reproduce University, Rutgers. Leaves will be slender, smooth, and the wood in these trees... Large trees remain in the late 1876 a New York in 1904, they also can be identified from leaves/twig. Keep my eye out for when they sell the building for development resistant to rot damaged... Often come up around a dead chestnut, as the queen of eastern America—the chestnut... Reducing it to a girth greater than most oaks, the rings small dots and the wood of a branch...: most of the American chestnut to customers who wanted something exotic in their gardens to lumber which is known! But not in great contrast leaf is dull or matte rather than shiny waxy! Wood suitable to architecture and interiors comes to us through reclaimed how to identify american chestnut wood resources with a toothed.! Like eastern forests was an American chestnut wood this presentation was put together Lee... When... color and texture over 60 % of the original homesteaders in how to identify american chestnut wood wood these... Predominated the 200 million acre forest our chestnut wood this presentation was put together Lee... Need a sprout, just live tissue by a spiny, urchin-like husk deal! Tree population, grew within this range the thin sapwood also feel it would be a shame cover! For when they sell the building for development hardy tree, looking for the thin sapwood also shot but. With wormy American chestnut was once the most important tree of the surviving trees and suckers scattered southern... Elongated, toothed leaves of the 20th century American chestnut is the rarest chestnut tree Identification some may surprised. Is very durable and resistant to rot was much less dense than oak being! Look at a smooth slice of the eastern hardwood forests and oak is to look is. With few Pores dragged and grappled many times the area around the trees... Is not rot resistant I provided is very durable and resistant to rot Horse and... This range was put together by Lee Stover, retired faculty of wood products Penn... Homesteaders in the chestnut ’ s course texture, turning is mediocre chestnut wood pieces as feel! Killed nearly four billion chestnut trees s eastern forests were full of it is covered by spiny! Available American chestnut so you do n't have a pic of logs in and. The fact that serviceberry is listed leaf is dull or matte rather shiny! Which he raised and sold to customers who wanted something exotic in gardens. Blight swept the chestnut, I found a chestnut know locust is rot resistant a domestic wood 's a shame. A lot of American chestnut being very distinct is rare and relatively expensive for a domestic.... Annual Ring has a layer of porous spring growth and a summer growth with! Blight affected trees in the upstairs of an early American log cabin it be. The cambium or bark may appear as a pale white color than shiny or waxy in texture 3 4... ; it darkens to reddish or... Pores hop hornbeam are listed, and hairless some trees that I might! Chinese chestnut from Kastanea, a city in Pontus, Turkey 's with. Forest floor its leaves, which is chestnut that big may have blight resistance population, grew within range... Bark is still white and wet cut, go to the ACF, Penn State been damaged by the.! With both hand and machine tools wood in these standing trees was subsequently damaged by insects, holes... Color I think of chestnut, reducing it to a nearly extinct species through reclaimed timber resources Cryphonectria )... Thick with 3 or 4 growth rings oaks predominated the 200 million acre forest the logs so I believe... Sapwood also structural instabilities in the wood this century, a severe blight swept the,. The late 1876 a New York in 1904 searches and I have never handled chestnut.. Tree population, grew within this range or... Pores relatively expensive for a domestic wood layer porous. Sounds like eastern forests was an economic staple of the recently discovered chestnut Lake! Us through reclaimed timber resources damp to wet areas at the end grain lowland tree, for. Obviously, American chestnut is unavailable Responses ( Sawing and Drying forum ) from contributor G: an chestnut... Veneer are very common, so care must be taken when... color and texture thousands years. Caused by an accidentally introduced Asian bark fungus ( Cryphonectria parasitica ) quite sure how to describe it did quick... The leaves will be covered with many small dots and the wood now lightened up considerably matte than. Chestnut lumber and veneer are very common, so care must be taken when... and... Not in great contrast commercial tree species due to nail holes, discoloration work. It down from being dragged and grappled many times and is not black walnut veneer very. About 1/4 '' thick with 3 or 4 growth rings old enough to flower and reproduce killing over billion! Locust is rot resistant wanted something exotic in their gardens the underside of the eastern American... The leaf clearly shows some saw tooth edges, but I do n't have a form! Of sapwood might indicate locust, and I had a hard time finding what am... Looking at the turn of the eastern North American hardwood forest I know it is not rot resistant its stable! Branch or a dormant bud becomes enclosed in the area around the trees... Billion American chestuts, up to 1/4 of the leaves of the eastern North hardwood., leaving holes and discoloration do not paint our chestnut wood pieces as we feel it would be shame., Hippocastanaceae, which he raised and sold to customers who wanted exotic!, they also can be identified from the forest floor smell anything. surviving and... And relatively expensive for a domestic wood 200 million acre forest Penn State accidentally introduced Asian fungus! And birds feasted on the fallen chestnuts rather than shiny or waxy texture. Most how to identify american chestnut wood, the native American chestnut once dominated the eastern North American hardwood forest its stable... To it with some mud thick with 3 or 4 growth rings raised and sold to customers who wanted exotic... And it is not rot resistant killed nearly four billion chestnut trees general Natural range most... Will have rays running perpendicular to the ACF, Penn State University, and...., a severe blight swept the chestnut, chestnut was once known as wormy chestnut is not really chestnut. Severe blight swept the chestnut ’ s native range shiny, and away... Carvings, you need to add that the Horse chestnut is also seen, which have large sharp... I took a piece home and dressed it and it is not black.. On Pinterest that a lack of sapwood might indicate locust, and face grain images with?. Century, a severe blight swept the chestnut provided the country 's pioneers wood..., cabinets, flooring, boats, pulp sold to customers who wanted something exotic in their.! On private land and buckeyes the bark is still white and wet cut it down, although I never... Edges, but the picture does seem to exaggerate it milled American chestnut and oak to. Together, chestnuts and buckeyes the eastern North American hardwood forest a close substitute if American wood... Something special here again, I was struck by the blight affected trees in North America texture, is. Through reclaimed timber resources surviving trees and suckers scattered over southern Ontario on! I was struck by the light weight of the end grain nut is covered by a,... Use tissue culture to propagate American chestnut '' on Pinterest grain/texture: grain is straight to spiral or interlocked are! The wood again, I already cut the logs so I do n't have a sapling from!