Ulmus chumlia

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Ulmus chumlia
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Ulmaceae
Genus: Ulmus
Species: U. chumlia
Binomial name
Ulmus chumlia
Melville & Heybroek
Synonyms

Ulmus androssowii var. subhirsuta C. K. Schneid.

Ulmus androssowii var. virgata (Planch.) Grudz.

Ulmus pumila var. pilosa Rehder

Ulmus virgata Wallich ex Planch.

Ulmus wilsoniana var. subhirsuta C. K. Schneid.

Ulmus chumlia Melville & Heybroek is a small deciduous tree endemic to the Himalaya from the Kashmir to central Nepal, and the provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan and Xizang (Tibet) in China. It is found in broadleaf forest on mountain slopes at elevations of between 1000 m and 3000 m. Very occasionally growing to 25 m high, it has a spreading crown of sinuous branches. The blackish-grey bark of the trunk is irregularly reticulate, and exfoliate. The wing-less branchlets bear narrow obovate-acuminate to elliptic-acuminate leaves < 10 cm long x 4 cm broad. The wind-pollinated petal-less flowers appear in spring, followed by orbicular samarae 10 mm - 12 mm in diameter[1].

Like most elms, the tree is valued as fodder. The bark fibres are used for rope making and are also included with wool to make extra warm clothing [2]. The tree is not known to be in cultivation beyond Asia.

[edit] References

  1. ^ 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. ISBN-10: 1930723407 [1]
  2. ^ Melville, R. & Heybroek, H. M. (1971). The Elms of the Himalaya. Kew Bulletin Vol. 26 (1). Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, London.