A vascular flora of Bendabout Farm, Bradley County, Tennessee and survey of native Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh. (Fagaceae, American chestnut)

The primary goal of this study was to inventory the flora of Bendabout Farm, a 1,467 ha privately-owned farm in Bradley County, Tennessee. A second goal was to conduct a census of the population and distribution of surviving Castanea dentata (Marsh) Borkh. (American chestnut) within the study area. Both natural/semi-natural and altered habitats were described during initial habitat characterization. The study recorded 433 species from 261 genera in 106 families. The study documented 250 new records for Bradley County. Special Concern Species, Panax quinquefolius L., was vouchered, as were 68 non-native species. C. dentata were located using the sweep census method in the dry oak forest. In total, 330 ha were surveyed and 181 sprouts were documented. Maps displaying location data were generated in ArcGIS 10 to assist property managers in making best land management decisions in regard to protecting C. dentata sprouts on the farm.