Dutch Elm

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Although all naturally-occurring Field Elm U. minor x Wych Elm U. glabra hybrids are loosely termed Dutch elm, U. x hollandica Major is a distinctive English cultivar that came to be known specifically as the 'Dutch Elm'. Before the advent of Dutch elm disease, the tree often attained a height of over 30 m, with a short bole and irregular, wide-spreading branches. The bark of the trunk is dark, and deeply fissured. The leaves are oval, < 12 cm long by 7 cm wide, the top surface dark green and glossy, with a long serrated point at the apex. The petal-less, wind-pollinated flowers are red, and produced in spring in large clusters of up to 50. The obovate samarae are up to 25 mm long by 18 mm broad. The cultivar may be distinguished from other elms by the corky ridges that occur only on the epicormic branches of the trunk. The seed is rarely viable, but the tree suckers profusely from roots.

In North America it is grown at the Arnold Arboretum and Longwood Gardens. It is not known to be in cultivation in Australasia.

[edit] References

• Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London.
• Burdekin, D. A. & Rushforth, K. D. (Revised by Webber J. F. 1996). Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Arboricultural Research Note 2/96. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Alice Holt, Farnham, UK.
• Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [1]
• Richens, R. H. (1983). Elm. Cambridge University Press.