Ulmus minor subsp angustifolia

Taxobox
status = LC
name = "Ulmus minor" subsp. "angustifolia"
regnum = Plantae


image_caption = Cornish Elm, Finistere, France, in 1996. Photo: Eric Collin, Cemagref
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Ulmus"
species = "U. minor"
subspecies = "U. minor angustifolia"
trinomial = "Ulmus minor" subsp. "angustifolia"
trinomial_authority = Mill., (Weston), Stace
synonyms =
*"Ulmus minor" var. "cornubiensis" Richens
*"Ulmus pyramidalis" C. de Vos
*"Ulmus stricta" Lindley
*"Ulmus suberosa fastigiata" Audibert

"Ulmus minor" Mill. subsp. "angustifolia" (Weston) Stace , the Cornish Elm, before the advent of Dutch elm disease was a tall, slender, slow-growing deciduous tree once common across much of south-west England, southern Ireland, and Brittany.

Description

Growing to over 30 m, the tree was distinguished by a long, straight trunk culminating in a narrow fan-shaped crown comprising short, straight, ascending branches. The leaves are small, obovate to oval, typically acuminate at the apex, < 60 mm long by 35 mm broad with a dark green upper surface, glossy and smooth. The reddish apetalous wind-pollinated flowers occur in clusters of between 15 and 20 on very short pedicels. The samarae rarely ripened in England, but when mature were very similar to those of the Field Elm group generally, being mostly obovate < 16 mm by 10 mm.

Pests and diseases

Cornish Elm is very susceptible to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation and uses

The origin of the Cornish Elm in the UK remains a matter of contention; commonly assumed to have been introduced from Brittany by man, it is also considered possible that it may have survived the Ice Ages on lands to the south of Cornwall long since lost to the sea White, J. & More, D. (2002). "Trees of Britain & Northern Europe". Cassell's, London.] . Certainly, its current distribution owes much to man's activities. The tree was traditionally considered the best choice for providing shelter along the Cornish coast, moreover its timber was much prized for its strength, and commonly used in wheel and wagon construction Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). "The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland". Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/] ] .

No mature specimens are known to have survived the current Dutch elm disease pandemic in the wild in England [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=7839] , but suckers remain a common component of hedgerows, and thus the genetic resources of this subspecies are not considered endangered [http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Networks/euforgen/Networks/Scattered_Broadleaves/NHStrategies/UlmusSppConsStrategy.htm] . A prime example of this is the Great Elm of Rosuic, which attained a d.b.h. of over 2.5 m before succumbing to disease, but is now producing suckers. Again, like others of the species, propagation is by suckers, which the tree produces copiously Richens, R. H. (1983). "Elm". Cambridge University Press] Stace, C. A. (1997). "New Flora of the British Isles", 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press] .

There are no known cultivars of this taxon, nor is it known to be available from any nurseries beyond Australia.

Accessions

;North America
*Arnold Arboretum, acc. nos. 17676, and (two trees) acc. no. 328-81
*Bartlett Tree Nurseries, acc. no. 96-2161, (no details available)
*J. C. Raulston Arboretum, North Carolina State University, details unavailable.;Europe
*Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection holders, 12 trees in Bear Road Cemetery, 2 in Hove Cemetery, and 2 along Queen's Park Road.
*Selmeston Country Park, East Sussex. UK - 12 trees by the A27.
*Cambridge Botanic Garden [http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/] , University of Cambridge, UK, as "U. angustifolia" var. "cornubiensis", no accession details available. ;Australasia
*Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Australia [cite book|author=Spencer, R., Hawker, J. and Lumley, P.| title=Elms in Australia| publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne|location=Australia | year=1991| id=ISBN 0724199624]

Nurseries

;Australasia
*Established Tree Transplanters Pty. Ltd. [http://establishedtrees.com.au] , Wandin, Victoria, Australia.

References