Ulmus glabra

Taxobox
status = LC
name = "Ulmus glabra"


image_caption = Wych Elm, Alnarp, Sweden. Photo: Ronnie Nijboer, Bonte Hoek kwekerijen
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Ulmus"
species = "U. glabra"
binomial = "Ulmus glabra"
binomial_authority = Huds.
synonyms =
*"Ulmus campestris" L. Mill., Wilkomm
*"Ulmus elliptica" Koch
*"Ulmus excelsa" Borkh.
*"Ulmus montana" Stokes, Smith, Loudon, Mathieu, With.
*"Ulmus nuda" Ehrh.
*"Ulmus podolica" (Wilcz.) Klok.
*"Ulmus popovii" Giga.
*"Ulmus scabra" Mill., C. K. Schneid., Ley, Ascherson & Graebner
*"Ulmus suberosa" Michx.
*"Ulmus sukaczevii" AndronovThe Wych Elm "Ulmus glabra" Huds., or Scots Elm, is a large deciduous tree native to Europe, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus. Essentially a montane species, the tree occurs as far north as latitude 67°N at Beiarn in Norway and has also been successfully introduced to Narsarsuaq, near the southern tip of Greenland (61°N). In the British Isles, it was by far the most common elm in the north and west of the region Richens, R. J. (1984) "Elm", Cambridge University Press.] .

Description

The tree sometimes reaches heights of 40 m, typically with a broad crown supported by a short bole < 2 m. d.b.h. The largest tree listed in the Tree Register of the British Isles [http://www.treeregister.org/] (TROBI) is at Brahan in the Scottish Highlands; it has a girth of 703 cm (2.23 m d.b.h.) and a height of 24 m [http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/future.pdf] . Closely related species such as Bergmann's Elm "U. bergmanniana" and Manchurian Elm "U. laciniata", native to north-east Asia, were once sometimes included in "Ulmus glabra" Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). "The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland". Vol. VII. pp 1848&ndash;1929. Private publication, Edinburgh. [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/] ] .Another close relative is the Himalayan Elm "U. wallichiana".The Wych Elm is notable for its very tough, supple young shoots. The leaves are deciduous, alternate, simple ovate or obovate with a lop-sided base, 6-17 cm long and 3-12 cm broad; the upper surface is rough. Leaves on vigorous shoots are sometimes three-lobed near the apex. The hermaphrodite flowers appear before the leaves in early spring, produced in clusters of 10-20; they are 4 mm across on 10 mm long stems and, being wind-pollinated, are apetalous. The fruit is a winged samara 20 mm long and 15 mm broad, with a single round 6 mm seed in the centre, maturing in late spring Bean, W. J. (1981). "Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain", 7th edition. Murray, London.] White, J. & More, D. (2003). "Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Cassell's, London] .

Pests and diseases

The species is highly susceptible to Dutch elm disease once infected Forestry Commission. "Dutch elm disease in Britain", UK. [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/HCOU-4U4JCL] ] Brasier, C. M. (1996). New horizons in Dutch elm disease control. Pages 20&ndash;28 in: "Report on Forest Research", 1996. Forestry Commission. HMSO, London, UK. [http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/New_horizons_DED.pdf/$FILE/New_horizons_DED.pdf] ] . However, it is less favoured as a host by the elm bark beetles that spread the disease. Research in Spain has indicated that it is the presence of a triterpene, alnulin, that renders the tree bark less attractive to the beetle than the Field Elm "Ulmus minor" Martín-Benito D., Concepción García-Vallejo M., Alberto Pajares J., López D. 2005. Triterpenes in elms in Spain. "Can. J. For. Res." 35: 199–205 (2005). [http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/rp/rppdf/x04-158.pdf] ] . As Wych Elm does not sucker from the roots, and any seedlings often consumed by uncontrolled deer populations, regeneration is very restricted, limited to sprouts from the stumps of young trees. The resultant decline has been extreme and the Wych Elm is now uncommon over much of its former range.

In 1998, over 700 healthy, mature trees were discovered on the upper slopes of Mount Šimonka in Slovakia, but it is now believed they had survived courtesy of their isolation from disease-carrying beetles rather than any innate resistance; 50 clones of these trees were presented to HRH The Prince of Wales for planting at his Highgrove estate, and at Clapham, Yorkshire [http://www.ecosystems.sk/pages/news41.html] . Indeed, DNA analysis by Cemagref in France has determined that genetic diversity within the species is very limited, making the chances of a resistant tree evolving rather remote. Nevertheless, the spread of Dutch elm disease to Scotland has revealed a number of Wych elm apparently surviving there unscathed, prompting the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to clone the trees and inoculate them with the fungus to determine any innate resistance.

Cultivation

The tree is moderately light-demanding, requires deep, rich soils, and is intolerant of flooding and prolonged drought CAB International (2005) "Forestry Compendium". CAB International, Wallingford, UK] . Wych Elm does not produce suckers and propagation from hardwood cuttings is notoriously difficult; even under mist conditions, rooting success is rarely more than 10%.

ubspecies

Some botanists, notably Lindquist Lindquist, B. (1931). Two varieties of North West European Ulmus glabra. "Bot. Exch. Club Rep."] [http://www.jstor.org/view/00400262/ap040106/04a00020/0?frame=noframe&userID=[e-mail]/01cc99331600501cade66&dpi=3&config=jstor] (1931) have proposed dividing the species into two subspecies:
*"Ulmus glabra" subsp. "glabra". In the south of the species' range. Leaves broad; trees often with a short, forked trunk and a low, broad crown.
*"Ulmus glabra" subsp. "montana" (Stokes) Lindqvist. In the north of the species' range (northern Britain, Scandinavia). Leaves narrower; trees commonly with a long single trunk and a tall, narrow crown.However, there is much overlap between populations in these characters and the distinction may be owing to environmental influence, rather than genetic variation; the subspecies are not accepted by "Flora Europaea" Commons|Ulmus glabra [http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Ulmus&SPECIES_XREF=glabra&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: "Ulmus glabra"] ] .

Cultivars

Circa 43 cultivars have been raised although many, at least 30, are now probably lost to cultivation as a consequence of Dutch elm disease and/or other factors:
*Albo-Variegata, Atropurpurea, Australis, Camperdownii (Camperdown Elm), Cebennensis (Cevennes Elm), Cornuta, Corylifolia, Corylifolia Purpurea, Crispa, Crispa Aurea, Dovaei, Escaillard, Exoniensis (Exeter Elm), Fastigiata macrophylla, Fastigiata stricta, Fastigiata variegata, Firma, Flava, Gittisham, Holgeri, Horizontalis (Weeping Elm), Insularis, Latifolia Aurea, Latifolia Aureo-Variegata, Latifolia Nigricans, Luteo Variegata, Lutescens (Golden Wych Elm), Macrophylla, Maculata, Minor, Monstrosa, Nana (Dwarf Wych Elm), Nigra (Black Irish Elm), Oblongata, Pendula Macrophylla, Pendula Variegata, Purpurea, Ramulosa, Rubra, Rugosa, Spectabilis, Tiliaefolia, Tomentosa

Hybrids

*"Ulmus × elegantissima", "Ulmus × hollandica".

Hybrid cultivars

The tree has featured strongly in artificial hybridization experiments in Europe, notably at Wageningen in the Netherlands, and a number of hybrid cultivars have been commercially released since 1960Green, P. S. (1964). Registration of cultivar names in Ulmus. "Arnoldia". Vol. 24. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. [http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1605.pdf] ] . The earlier trees were raised in response to the initial Dutch elm disease pandemic that afflicted Europe after the First World War, and were to prove vulnerable to the much more virulent strain of the disease that arrived in the late 1960s. However, further research eventually produced several trees immune to disease that were released after 1989 Heybroek, H. (1983). The Dutch elm breeding program. In Sticklen & Sherald (Eds). "Dutch elm disease research" (Ch. 3). Springer Verlag, New York.]
*Alba, Angustifolia, Arno, Belgica (Belgian Elm), Cinerea, Clusius, Columella, Commelin, Dampieri, Dauvessei, Daveyi (Davey Elm), Den Haag, Dodoens, Dumont, Eleganto-Variegata, Etrusca, Fjerrestad, Fulva, Gaujardii, Groeneveld, Haarlemensis, Hillieri, Homestead, Jacqueline Hillier, Lobel, Major (Dutch Elm), Macrophylla Aurea, Microphylla, Modiolina, Muscaviensis, Nanguen (LUTECE), Pioneer, Plinio, Regal, San Zanobi, Serpentina, Smithii (Downton Elm), Stavast, Superba, Tricolor, Urban, Vegeta (Huntingdon Elm) / (Chichester Elm), Virens (Kidbrook Elm), Viscosa, Warnoux (VADA), Wredei (Golden Elm), Ypreau.

Etymology

The word "wych" has its origins in Middle English "wiche", from the Old English "wice", meaning pliant or supple, and which also gives us "wicker" and "weak". Owing to its former abundance in Scotland, it was occasionally known as the 'Scotch (sic) Elm'; the name Loch Lomond a corruption of the Gaelic "Lac Leaman", or 'Lake of the Elms'.

Accessions

;North America
*Arnold Arboretum, acc. no. 391-2001, wild collected in Georgia.
*Bartlett Tree Experts, acc. nos. 1505, 5103, origin undisclosed.
*Dawes Arboretum [http://www.dawesarb.org/collectionsgardens/plant-search.asp] , Newark, Ohio. 6 trees, no acc. details available.
*Missouri Botanical Garden [http://www.mobot.org/] , St. Louis, Missouri acc. nos. 1969-6164, 1986-0160.
*Morton Arboretum, acc. nos. 591-54, 255-81, and by its synonym "U. sukaczevii" Acc. nos. 949-73, 181-76;EuropeToo numerous to list.;Australasia
*Avenue of Honour, Ballarat, Australia. Details not known.
*Eastwoodhill Arboretum [http://www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/gardens--collection/collection.aspx?Type=&G=Ulmus] , Gisborne, New Zealand, 8 trees, details not known.

Nurseries

;North AmericaOnly as cultivar Camperdownii (Camperdown Elm);EuropeWidely available. In the UK, nurseries stocking this tree can be found by using the plantfinder function of the Royal Horticultural Society's website. [http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder.asp] This tree is also stocked by many local nurseries and by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. [http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level3/253/level] ;Australasia
*Established Trees Transplanters Pty. Ltd., Wandin, Victoria, Australia, [http://www.establishedtrees.com.au] . No details given.

eed suppliers

*B and T World Seeds [http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/alaCart.asp] , Paguignan, 34210 Aigues-Vives, France
*Nicky's Nursery Ltd [http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/bonsai1.htm#Ulmus%20Glabra] , Broadstairs, Kent, UK
*Sheffield's Seeds Co. Inc. [http://www.sheffields.com/products/simple_search] , New York, USA.

References

External links

*http://northernontarioflora.ca/chklst.cfm?speciesid=1005114 Synonymy list.
*http://en.sl.life.ku.dk/Faciliteter/GroenlandsArboretet/Skovplantninger.aspx The Forest Plantations (Greenland)