Field Elm
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| Ulmus minor Miller |
The Field Elm U. minor is by far the most polymorphic of the three European species, although its taxonomy remains a matter of contention. Its current treatment owes much to Richens, who sank a number of British elms as either subspecies or varieties in 1968. However, Melville, writing 10 years later, identified five distinct species, several varieties and numerous complex hybrids. In 1992, 14 years after Melville, Armstrong 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[1]. Given the vast range of forms, branching habits and leaf shapes, it would be futile to attempt a detailed description of U. minor. Its natural range is predominantly south European, but extends to Asia 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.
Many Latin binomials have been applied to the Field Elm (excluding the English Elm) notably U. nitens and U. carpinifolia.
[edit] References
- 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.
- 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.
- Richens, R. H. (1968). The correct designation of the European field elms. Feddes Repertorium 79: 1-2.
- Stace, C. A. (1997). New Flora of the British Isles. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press.
- http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Networks/euforgen/Networks/Scattered_Broadleaves/NHStrategies/UlmusSppConsStrategy.htm].
