The Massachusetts American Chestnut Tree Identification Form

Tree ID Code :_________________________________________________
(Code should include town of tree, initials of the owner and/or identifier, a number for the specimen, ex. StoughtonAMM1.LV)

Town where Tree is located: ______________________ (To find each chestnut tree, use contour maps which show roads and landmarks) Directions to Tree:         North                   Sketch tree location above. Please tie tree to landmark road(s) with distance and direction. Be as accurate as possible (or) mark location on a topographic map.

Official Entries Preliminary Checker: ______________________ Date: ______________________ Preliminary Classification: ______________________ Date owner or Recorder Notified: ______________________ Comments:     TACF Verification Checker: ______________________ Date: ______________________ Classification: ______________________ Comments:     Tree Identifier Code ______________________

GPS data Lat*______________________GPS Lon*______________________Elevation___________________
(*Use NAD27 Map Datum values)

Please fill out or check the appropriate blocks below: 

Owner Information:

Owner Name: _________________________________________Telephone # ___________________

Address: ___________________________________________ Email:_________________________________

City: _____________________________ State: ______ Zip Code__________

The TACF may use this tree for:

Viewing only: Pollinating: Nut Collecting:

Landowner Permission Granted by:

Name: _________________________ Title: _________________________ Date: _______________

Tree Information:

Stump Sprout sample: in cluster of ______________other stump sprouts.

Isolated Tree*: or in group of ______ trees Young Tree Mature tree Age of tree, if known:______

(*Defined as no other trees or stump sprouts within 100 paces.)

Is tree: In full sunlight? , In the Shade? In partial sun or filtered sun?

How far away is nearest Chestnut Tree (also direction)? ________________________________________________

Size: Diameter (at 4 feet above the ground) _______________________ Approx Height_____________________

(To calculate diameter measure circumference in inches, and divide by p (3.14). A 12" diameter tree will have a circumference of just over 38".)

Bearing: Not blooming OR: Flowers , Burs , Nuts . How many: None Few Many .

Tree habit/trunk: Straight with no crotches Orchard type with height of first main branch or crotch _______________

Slope tree is on: N: , NE: , E: , SE: , S: , SW: , W: , NW:

Site Characteristics: Steep Gentle Flat Ravine Top Middle Bottom .

Blight Information:

Blight is: In Vicinity , On Tree , Absent from tree !.

Canker Characteristics: Sunken Canker , Sinking Bark Swollen Cankers , Raising Bark

Canker Location(s): On Trunk , On Limbs : , In Crown

Is terminal branch (apical leader) alive? Yes No

Are there any signs of fungus (Localized yellow/orange pustules on the trunk or limbs)? Yes , No

Approximate percent of crown that is alive: _________ %.

Size of largest cankers: _______ Inches High _____ Inches Wide.

The TACF may use this tree for:

Viewing only: , Pollinating: , Nut Collecting: !,

Landowner Permission Granted by:

Name: ______________________________ Title: _____________________________Date: _______________

Comments: Include origin, condition and accessibility of the tree (how far from road), accessibility of flowers and nuts (how high from ground).

This Specimen Submitted by:

Name: _________________________________Telephone #___________________________

Address: _________________________________________Email: ________________________

City: _____________________________________State: _____________ Zip Code __________________

01/05/01 MA Tree Locate Form Rev 10.31.00

Directions for Collecting Specimen for Chestnut Tree Identification:

• Cut 4-6 inches of twig from a side branch with several attached leaves, including the smallest, youngest ones. Also collect a few older mature shade leaves. Leaves to be examined should be fully expanded, from parts of the tree exposed in full sun, if possible, and not from within 6 inches of flowers. In Massachusetts, leaves may not be fully expanded until mid to late June. Do not send a specimen with burs attached (that is, the terminal part of the branch).
• Press the specimen between layers of newspaper so that the leaves remain flat. Do not enclose in plastic! Mail in a 12x15 manila envelope with specimen held flat with cardboard if needed. Do not crumple leaves.
• If there is more than one specimen, label each specimen clearly with a tag that matches a tag on the tree. Masking tape makes a good specimen tag.
• Send the specimen and the tree identification form to:

If you have questions about the specimen, contact The American Chestnut Foundation, Massachusetts Chapter by phone or by email or by letter.