American Chestnut : The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree (9780520259942)

The American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees - a 'perfect tree' that ruled the forests from Georgia to Maine. But in the early twentieth century, an exotic plague swept through the chestnut forests with the force of a wildfire. Within forty years, the blight had killed close to four billion trees and left the species teetering on the brink of extinction. It was one of the worst ecological blows to North America since the Ice Age - and one most experts considered beyond repair. In "American Chestnut", Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn optimists who refused to let this cultural icon go.In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, she relates their quest to save the tree through methods that ranged from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology. But the heart of her story is the cast of unconventional characters who have fought for the tree for a century, undeterred by setbacks or skeptics, and fueled by their dreams of restored forests and their powerful affinity for a fellow species.

Product details

• Format Paperback | 304 pages
• Dimensions 152 x 229 x 20mm | 408g
• Publication date 03 Apr 2009
• Publisher University of California Press
• Publication City/Country Berkerley, United States
• Language English
• Illustrations note 1 b-w photograph, 1 line illustration, 1 map
• ISBN10 0520259947
• ISBN13 9780520259942
• Bestsellers rank 1,975,509

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