Via American Forests

The region’s arboriculturists have some sad news today, as a prize-winning tree in Charles County, Md. was recently discovered to have toppled over, the Associated Press reports. The tree, a 150-tall American basswood in Chapman State Park, was believed to be over 200 years old.

The nature advocacy group American Forests, which tracks the “champions” of various tree species, listed the Charles County specimen as the tallest basswood on its records. The tree was nominated for champion status in 2009 by Rod Simmons, a biologist surveying the park, and was confirmed as the tallest basswood on record a year later, the AP reports.

According to American Forests, the basswood was about 20 feet around and had a crown of about 90 feet. Simmons told the AP that the tree fell after being unable to withstand Hurricane Irene last August as well as heavy rainfall last September.

With the loss of the Chapman State Park tree, the tallest basswood listed by American Forests is a Carolina variety located in Wakulla Springs State Park, Fla.