This does not appear to be an American Chestnut (genus Castanea) but it might be a seedling Chestnut Oak. It's too young to ID concretely, though you could use the key from Virginia Tech as a guide if you wanted to narrow-down what genus/species it might be. There are nearly two dozen oak species that grow in Maryland, for example, and several look quite similar to each other in leaf shape. Leaf shape is not the most reliable trait for plant ID by itself, but since this specimen won't reach flowering or seed-bearing age for many years (when acorn traits would help with ID), twig traits and foliage will have to suffice. Leaf shape can vary a bit from individual to individual, and even on the same tree, based on environmental conditions like how much direct sun or shade they are exposed to.

Miri

Thanks

On Wednesday, August 23, 2023, 12:59 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote: