Description:

A deciduous tree from the Elm Family (Ulmaceae) American Elm, once a stately and magnificent tree that lined America's city streets, has partly followed in the footsteps of the American Chestnut, with many large American Elms succumbing to Dutch Elm disease.

This pathogen (transmitted by the elm bark beetle) plugs the vascular system of the tree, preventing the flow of water and nutrients and slowly killing it. However, young trees are immune to the disease, and many reach reproductive age before falling victim to this foreign fungus.