Chestnut trees, Castanea sativa, Les Martys, France
Walking in a cool, upland forest in the  Montagne Noire (The Black Mountains) in the south of France near Carcassone, we stumbled upon a Chestnut tree.  This one is the European variety, Castanea sativa.  There were many of them, some very tall specimens.  We got a glimpse of what the American Chestnuts must have been like, being that these are so similar in appearance.
Chestnut trees, Castanea sativa, Les Martys, France
We noticed the blight on the bark, and upon close inspection we found trees that were dead in the middle with many shoots around the side, a familiar sight in northeastern America.
Chestnut trees, Castanea sativa, Les Martys, France
It turns out that the European Chestnut is also effected by the blighting fungus introduced from Chinese Chestnuts, however they are not as severely affected as the American Chestnuts.
It was exciting to see these Chestnuts growing amidst European Beeches and Oaks on this cool hillside!
Isabelle Dijols with ferns, Les Martys, France
The ferns in these woods were taller than Isabelle.
American Chestnut seedling, Morris Park, Philadelphia
This seedling is good to see. After last year’s flowering and fruit production, we are not surprised to see a seedling of Castenea dentata growing below the blighted parents.  One of the parent trees of this youthful and vigorous seedling arrived this spring as a ghost, a multi-branched silhouette  of what it once was.  The Chestnut blight had destroyed the tree.  Its roots were able to push out more sprouts and the being itself is still alive.
For the time being this seedling is completely healthy, and may remain so for a few years to come. It is good  that the American Chestnut trees in Morris Park are still functioning reproductively; they flower, fruit and drop seed.  The seed is viable and is sprouting.
American Chestnut seedling, Morris Park, Philadelphia
This section of Morris Park has for the most part, been left undisturbed. Enough so that the Chestnut trees are still intact. Many advancing introduced and invasive species are now growing amidst the Chestnuts.  Ailanthus altissima,  The Tree of heaven, Aralia elata,  the Japanese Angelica Tree are within a few feet of this seedling.  If we are not here to control these invasives, what will this forest be like in 20 years?  These invasive trees are aggressive invaders. Mature specimens throw out thousands of seeds every year, all the while sending out a vast, dense network of suckering roots that cover large areas of forest.  The resulting trees crowd out the natives and create dense shade.
American Chestnut seedling, Morris Park, Philadelphia
There was a dense cluster of the invasive exotic Japanese Angelica tree growing in the exact spot of this Chestnut seedling. Â Early this year, an effort was made to control this invasive tree and there was a resulting change in the light conditions on the ground. Â Perhaps the sprouting and growth of this seedling can be attributed to the changed conditions of light in the area?
