Large-fruited Elm
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| Ulmus macrocarpa Hance |
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Ulmus macrocarpa var. mandshurica Skvort. Ulmus macrocarpa var. mandshurica f. major Skvort. Ulmus macrocarpa var. mandshurica f. minor Skvort. Ulmus macrocarpa var. mongolica Liou & Li Ulmus macrocarpa var. nana Liou & Li Ulmus macrophylla Nakai |
The Large-fruited Elm Ulmus macrocarpa Hance is a small deciduous tree or large shrub endemic to the Far East excluding Japan. It is notable for its tolerance of drought and extreme cold and is the predominant vegetation on the dunes of the Korqin sandy lands in the Jilin province of north-eastern China, making a small tree at the base of the dunes, and a shrub at the top [1]. As is obvious from its name, the tree is distinguished by its large, orbicular, wafer-like samarae < 50 mm in diameter. The tree can reach a height of 17 m, with a slender trunk rarely exceeding 0.4 m d.b.h. (diameter at breast height). The bark is longitudinally fissured, and dark grey in colour. The twigs often develop corky wings that may persist for several years. The leaves are usually obovate, up to 9 cm in length, and chiefly characterized by their thick, leathery texture. The wind-pollinated petal-less flowers appear from March until May, and the seeds from April to June.
The species was introduced to the USA at the Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, in 1908, and to the UK at the erstwhile Aldenham Park, Hertfordshire, by Vicary Gibbs in the late 19th century. Possessed of a moderate resistance to Dutch elm disease, and a low susceptibility to elm yellows, the tree has been assessed at the Morton Arboretum, Illinois, for its landscape potential, and is now considered suitable for open areas such as parks and campuses. It has also proven very resistant to the Elm Leaf Beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola in trials in Oklahoma [2]. However, it is intolerant of poorly-drained ground prone to waterlogging. By the age of ten years, the tree bears a close resemblance to the American Elm U. americana, but will never approach the latter's size.
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[edit] Arboreta etc accessions
[edit] North America
- Arnold Arboretum, acc. nos. 17911, 346-82 (no provenances for either), 377-40 collected in China.
- Denver Botanic Gardens, one specimen, no details available
- Holden Arboretum, U. macrocarpa var. dorsetti (unrecognized name), acc. no. 97-26.
- Morton Arboretum, acc. nos. 589-64, 179-84, 286-95.
[edit] Europe
- Botanic Garden of the University of Copenhagen, no details available
- Brighton & Hove City Council, NCCPG elm collection [3].
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, acc. no. 20022149, wild collected in China.
[edit] Nurseries
[edit] North America
- Sunshine Nursery, Clinton, Oklahoma [4]
[edit] References
- Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London.
- Fu, L. & Jin J. (eds). (1992). China Red Data Book. Rare and endangered plants. Vol. 1. Science Press, Beijing.
- Fu, L., Xin, Y. & Whittemore, A. (2002). Ulmaceae, in Wu, Z. & Raven, P. (eds) Flora of China, Vol. 5 (Ulmaceae through Basellaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, USA. [5]
- Ware, G. (1995). Little-known elms from China: landscape tree possibilities. Journal of Arboriculture, (Nov. 1995). International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, Illinois, USA.
[6].
