Ulmus minor

Taxobox
status = LC


name = "Ulmus minor"
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Ulmus"
species = "U. minor"
binomial = "Ulmus minor"
binomial_authority = Mill.
synonyms =
*"Ulmus campestris" var. "glabra" Hartig, Planch., Aschers. & Graebn.
*"Ulmus campestris" var. "laevis" Spach, Planch.
*"Ulmus carpinifolia" Gled.
*"Ulmus foliaceae" Gilibert, Sarg., (also known as the Mulberry-leaved Elm)
*"Ulmus glabra" (not Huds.), Mill., Smith, Loudon, Rcbh., Wilkomm, C. K. Schneid., Ley
*"Ulmus minor suberosa" Moench, Rehder
*"Ulmus nitens" Moench

"Ulmus minor" Mill. , the Field Elm, is by far the most polymorphic of the European species, although its taxonomy remains a matter of contention. Its natural range is predominantly south European, but extends to Asia Minor. Its current treatment owes much to Richens Richens, R. H. (1968). The correct designation of the European field elms. "Feddes Repertorium" 79: 1-2.] , who sank a number of British elms as either subspecies or varieties in 1968. However, Melville Melville, R. (1978). On the discrimination of species in hybrid swarms with special reference to "Ulmus" and the nomenclature of "U. minor" (Mill.) and "U. carpinifolia" (Gled.). "Taxon" 27: 345-351.] , writing 10 years later, identified five distinct species, several varieties and numerous complex hybrids. In 1992, 14 years after Melville, Armstrong Armstrong, J. V. & Sell, P. D. (1996). A revision of the British elms ("Ulmus" L., Ulmaceae): the historical background. "Bot. J. Linn. Soc." 120: 39-50.] identified no fewer than 40 microspecies. Stace (1997) wrote of the British elms "The 2-species ("glabra" and "minor") concept of Richens is not sufficiently discriminating to be of taxonomic value". It is hoped that analysis of molecular markers will ultimately eliminate the taxonomic confusion. Nevertheless, it is Richens’ classification that has been the most commonly adopted in recent years, but it is not used in "Flora Europaea" [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/parent=/filename=feout/firstval=11/SID=484.1161948890?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Ulmus&SPECIES_XREF=&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK=] Stace, C. A. (1997). "New Flora of the British Isles". 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press.] .

Description

Given the vast range of forms, branching habits and leaf shapes, it would be futile to attempt a detailed description of "U. minor". One feature that remains common to all varieties is the ease with which "U. minor" produces suckers from roots and stumps, even after devastation by Dutch elm disease, consequently the genetic resources of the species are not considered endangered [http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Networks/euforgen/Networks/Scattered_Broadleaves/NHStrategies/UlmusSppConsStrategy.htm.] .

Pests and diseases

The tree is very susceptible to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

Owing to its susceptibility to Dutch elm disease, "U. minor" is now uncommon in cultivation.

ubspecies & varieties

*"Ulmus minor" subsp. "angustifolia" - Cornish Elm
*"Ulmus minor" subsp. "minor" - Smooth-leaved Elm, Narrow-leaved Elm
*"Ulmus minor" var. "plotii" - Plot's Elm, Goodyer's Elm, Lock Elm
*"Ulmus minor" subsp. "sarniensis" - Guernsey Elm, Jersey Elm, Southampton Elm, Wheatley Elm

Cultivars

*'Microphylla Pendula'?

Accessions

North America

None known

Europe

*Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie [http://lapetiteloiterie.free.fr/html/presentation/especes.html] , Monthodon, France. No details available
*Cambridge Botanic Garden [http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/] , University of Cambridge, UK, no accession details available.
*Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,UK, acc. nos. 19699368, 16899359, 19699365
*Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK, acc. no. 2001-0188, 3 specimens collected in Iran, 2000.
*Strona Arboretum [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulmus_lamellosa] , University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Australasia

*Eastwoodhill Arboretum [http://www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/gardens--collection/collection.aspx?Type=&G=Ulmus] , Gisborne, New Zealand, 2 trees, details not known.

Nurseries

North America

None known

Europe

*Eggleston Hall Gardens [http://egglestonhallgardens.com] , Eggleston, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK
*Firecrest Tree & Shrub Nursery [http://www.firecrest.org.uk] , Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK
*Lorenz von Ehren [http://lve.ulmer.de/TUlEPTUwOTY4.html?UID=BEA9FD32B9D84066636F075F113998FB30EF481B64C697] , Hamburg, Germany
*Trees & Hedges [http://treesandhedges.co.uk] , Heathfield, East Sussex, UK
*UmbraFlor [http://www.umbraflor.it] , Spello, Italy

References