Castanea dentata

Castanea dentata, commonly known as the American chestnut, is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It once dominated forests, reaching heights of up to 100 feet, and produced large, nutritious, and tasty nuts. Unfortunately, it was decimated in the early 20th century by chestnut blight, a fungal disease introduced from elsewhere. This invasion wiped out most of the mature trees, drastically reducing their presence in forests. Today, scientists and conservationists work on breeding and genetic techniques to restore the American chestnut, aiming to revive its ecological and economic importance.