A Tale of Two Trees - the Mysterious Survivors By Louise Miglionico and Don Tobi (Jericho Tree Warden)

From History of Jericho, Volume 1:

“ Numerous elms about town adorn our highways and beautify the fields. These majestic trees seem to say to the boys and girls “Stand erect ,” while their bending limbs suggest to all, the graces of character and the symmetry of life.”

Jericho, as so many other towns and cities in the United States, was once adorned with American elm trees (Ulmus americana). Americans loved the elm as it was thought to be a symbol of American freedom. There are old paintings depicting colonists planning the revolution standing under Elm trees.

Things changed though with the introduction of two organisms into the US in the early 1900’s. The first, the European elm bark beetle (Scolytus multistriatus) arrived in the US from Europe in the 1930’s on imported wood. Once established, this beetle along with our native elm bark beetle (Hylurgopinus rufipes) proved to be very effective vectors of the also recently introduced, Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi). The disease most likely originated in Asia but spread to Europe and Great Britain around 1900 and then to the US in the early 1930’s. This is a fungal disease that kills elm trees by plugging up the vascular system with fungal hyphae basically stopping the flow of water and strangling the tree.

The reason why the disease is called Dutch Elm Disease is because Dutch researchers were the first to identify it. In the US, federal, state, and local governments were unable to save the elms despite devoting much money and research. During the 1960’s, the American Elm all but disappeared from the streets and parks of the American landscape.

Elms in Australia, Alberta, British Columbia, and New Brunswick are not as affected by Dutch Elm Disease due to their geographical location and programs involving immediate removal of symptomatic trees and very active quarantine enforcement.

Somehow, two American elms have survived along Route 15 in Jericho Corners. The first of these can be found just over the Essex/Jericho town line. This elm has been designated as the Jericho Town Tree.

The second survivor is across from the Jericho Town Office building, in front of the Miglionico residence.

Castine, Maine has an amazing story of American elm survival. In their historic village, 300 still exist! In the 60’s and 70’s, the town injected the trees with an experimental fungicide. They continue to inject the trees with a fungicide and keep new infections – evident as the yellowing of leaves on smaller branches, pruned out of as many trees as they can. They also replace fallen elms (which does occur) with saplings which are bred to resist fungus.

So, why have the two elms on Route 15 in Jericho survived?

They most likely are resistant to either the feeding of the imported bark beetle or to the disease or maybe both. No one really knows but let’s hope that they can maintain their resiliency.