Ulmus chumlia

Ulmus chumlia
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 brandisiana A. Henry

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.

Contents

Description

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 apetalous flowers appear in spring, followed by orbicular samarae 10 mm - 12 mm in diameter[1].

Pests and diseases

No information available.

Uses

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].

Cultivation

The tree is not known to be in cultivation beyond Asia. Specimens introduced to the Netherlands by Heybroek in the 1960s did not prove hardy.

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