Welcome back to the Port Prolls Almanac. This is Andy, and today we're continuing our content on the Chinquapin.

In this episode, we're talking specifically about the Ozark Chinquipin.

Now, if you're not familiar with this variety of Chinquipin, it was once considered the tree variety of Chinquipin, which is closely related to the American Chestnut.

Today, we're joined by Steve Bossed, the president and founder of the Ozark Chinquipin Foundation.

We chat about the complex history of this plant, the research and breeding work they're doing, and so much more.

Take a listen, and if you're looking for more information, go check out the show's notes and the corresponding prior episode, as well as the substack article, where you can learn a whole

lot more about this unique, unique tree. Now, let's get into it.

Steve, thanks so much for joining us. Tell us a little bit about your work and a bit about

the origins of the

Ozark Chinquipan Foundation. Okay. Well, thank you, Andy. First of all, for inviting me on.

It's really good. Information is absolutely powerful. So I thank you. The trees can't talk.

So thank you for them, though. But a little bit back to your question, though, about the origin

of it.

Ozark Chinkabin has been around.

If you go by the DNA tests that are being done, all of them keep pointing the same way,

that it's not the relic American chestnut species that's oldest.

It's the Ozark Chinkapen.

The range of it was widespread. It thrived in really well-drained areas, whether it be rocky or sandy soil, all the way from, you know,

from East Texas and Oklahoma and even Kansas all the way across, even to Illinois. I think that's

where you're at, correct? I'm out in New England, but I know it's been found in Delaware, which we can talk about

a little bit. Yes, and so they extend all the way out to the Atlantic coast. And so if you

look at modern tree books, it shows a very small range, and it's so obscure now, most people

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