Backus Woods Chestnut tree

American Sweet Chestnut

"Formerly abundant in the carolinian forest zone of eastern North America, this once-stately species often reached 100ft (30m). Unfortunately it fell victim to a fungus from Asia in 1904 called Chestnut Blight. Within 40 years it was nearly wiped out. Today, suckers continue to grow from survivling roots of former trees but within a short time they are killed back by the blight. Amazingly this indiviual has survived beyond the sapling size." - from an interpretive plaque beside this tree.

Backus Woods, Ontario