Dutch elm

The ash trees of Iowa City, planted to replace elms felled by Dutch elm disease, are now succumbing in turn.

In the middle of the 20th Century, three species of another fungi under the genus Ophiostoma swept through North America and Europe, sickening trees with what's known as Dutch elm disease.

Ms Franklin said: "The Beauly elm has succumbed to Dutch elm disease."

This is precisely what happened with the elm, ruined by the beetle that brought Dutch elm disease.

“You’ve got the American chestnut blight and the Dutch elm disease, but this seems extraordinarily rapid and severe.”