[MAIPC] FW: American Chestnut?

Fri Apr 26 08:12:44 PDT 2019

Good morning everyone,

This tree appears to me and others who studied the photos to be a sawtooth oak, Quercus acutissima. This non-native tree originates from Asia and was a widely planted shade tree in the 80s and 90s in our region. In the decades since we have seen this tree become invasive, I agree with Karyn who recommend removing sawtooth oaks when feasable.

However there's disagreement about catkins in this thread that's worth discussing. My understanding is that both oaks and chestnut trees have catkins, although they differ in appearance. Catkins are the male flowers of wind pollinated trees, such as oaks and chestnuts. This time of year windshields become covered in yellow pollen and shed catkins from oaks, willow, birch, and other wind pollinated plants.

Here is an interesting read about oak catkins from the Washington Post:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/120417.html

The photo below of the tree in question shows the catkins and characteristic 'saw-toothed' leaves.
[Image]
More information about oak flowers: https://www.backyardnature.net/fl_bloak.htm

Have a lovely weekend!

Michael Ellis
Invasive Plant Management
Park Ranger Office, Natural and Historical Resources Division
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Department of Parks and Recreation

Cell: (240) 429-5042
________________________________
From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Mary Travaglini <marytravaglini at yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2019 10:11 AM
To: Liz Matthews; Karyn Molines
Cc: Juba, Marc; invasives at listserv.umd.edu; MNPS Board; maipc
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] FW: American Chestnut?

There was mention from Marc that there are catkins on the trees, which means chestnut and not oak. I would suggest that you put a few catkins in an bag with some leaves and any buds (maybe a twig didn't leaf out or fell on the ground and still has buds?) to the folks at Penn State. They once identified a chestnut for me in Pennsylvania that turned out to be a Japanese chestnut.

Mary

-------
From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of MARGARET L CHATHAM <margaret.chatham at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, April 26, 2019 6:43 AM
To: Liz Matthews
Cc: Juba, Marc; invasives at listserv.umd.edu; MNPS Board; maipc
Subject: Re: [MAIPC] FW: American Chestnut?

Oaks have catkins; chestnuts do not.
Margaret Chatham

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On Friday, April 26, 2019, 8:28:14 AM EDT, Karyn Molines <karyn.molines at gmail.com> wrote:

Sawtooth  oak is an invasive nonnative. Not sure what the mapping for specimen trees was for, but they should be removed.
Karyn

On Fri, Apr 26, 2019, 6:35 AM Liz Matthews <lizmatthews03 at gmail.com<mailto:lizmatthews03 at gmail.com> wrote:
Leaves and bark look like sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima), more than any of the chestnut species likely in our area.

On Thu, Apr 25, 2019 at 10:41 PM Marc Imlay <ialm at erols.com<mailto:ialm at erols.com>> wrote:

Who can help Marc Juba? Thanks.

Marc Imlay

From: Juba, Marc <Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org<mailto:Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org>>
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 10:37 AM
To: Imlay, Marc <Marc.Imlay at pgparks.com<mailto:Marc.Imlay at pgparks.com>>
Subject: FW: American Chestnut?

Hi Marc:

We are trying to get opinions on whether or not these trees are hybrids between the Chinese and American Chestnut or actual American chestnuts. Leaning towards them not being pure Chinese chestnut trees. Based on aerial imagery in PG Atlas they were planted in 1980. Any thoughts and opinions on subject are welcome.

-Marc

[cid:image001.png at 01D354AB.13C959E0]

Marc Juba, Senior Planner

Environmental Planning Section

Prince George’s Planning Department

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

9400 Peppercorn Place

Suite 230

Largo, MD 20772

Office: (301) 883-3239 Fax: (301) 952-8510

Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org<mailto:Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org>

From: Juba, Marc
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 9:08 AM
To: Garrett, Chris <Chris.Garrett at pgparks.com<mailto:Chris.Garrett at pgparks.com>>
Cc: Shoulars, Katina <Katina.Shoulars at ppd.mncppc.org<mailto:Katina.Shoulars at ppd.mncppc.org>>
Subject: American Chestnut?

Hi Chris:

I did a site visit, and noticed that not only did the environmental specialist omit 5 specimen trees from their plan but two of them are Chestnut Trees.

I was looking through the books and I think that the chestnuts are most likely American Chestnuts, not the Chinese Chestnut as the form is fairly upright (not spreading) and the leaves quite narrow and finely toothed. Unfortunately I could not find any fruit to be 100% certain. The catkins are still on the trees. I noted that we have no county champion American chestnuts in our Register of Champion Trees for the County. In fact the only type of Chestnut on register is Chinese chestnut. They could also be hybrids. I could use an extra pair of eyes on this. If they are Chinese chestnuts its no big deal, but if they are American chestnuts they would be eligible for county champion designation status.

If they are American chestnut, it might not be a bad idea for Parks to reach out to the owner of the property to see if they can be persuaded to forgo some cuttings for propagation, as I am sure they are going to apply for their removal. Resistant cultivars of American chestnut are rare, and big money, as I am sure you are aware. So it’s worth checking out. The site is located at 716 Ritchie Road, Capital Heights, MD. The two site entrances are roped off. I just parked in one of the industrial park parking lots on Edgeworth Drive and walked around to access site. Both trees are around 33” DBH.

Below is a rudimentary map with the trees in question circled. I have attached photos as well.

Here is what Virginia Tech says about the differences between Chinese versus American chestnut treeshttp://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/comparison/<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fdendro.cnre.vt.edu%2Fcomparison%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7C9f7ca32a1ce246ed3e1008d6ca5119b1%7Ca9061e0c24ca4c1cbeff039bb8c05816%7C0%7C0%7C636918847025502257&sdata=LQDCIfGtqdm3zHcrcEuoVoNOWp4YIUUMpSksyaP2kbw%3D&reserved=0>

[cid:image002.png at 01D4F9B0.140306D0]

-Marc

[cid:image001.png at 01D354AB.13C959E0]

Marc Juba, Senior Planner

Environmental Planning Section

Prince George’s Planning Department

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

9400 Peppercorn Place

Suite 230

Largo, MD 20772

Office: (301) 883-3239 Fax: (301) 952-8510

Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org<mailto:Marc.Juba at ppd.mncppc.org>

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