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''Ulmus laevis'' Pall., variously known as the European white elm, fluttering elm, spreading elm, stately elm and, in the United States, the Russian elm, is a large
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
native to Europe, from France northeast to southern Finland, east beyond the
Urals The Ural Mountains ( ; rus, Ура́льские го́ры, r=Uralskiye gory, p=ʊˈralʲskʲɪjə ˈɡorɨ; ba, Урал тауҙары) or simply the Urals, are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through European ...
into Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, and southeast to Bulgaria and the
Crimea Crimea, crh, Къырым, Qırım, grc, Κιμμερία / Ταυρική, translit=Kimmería / Taurikḗ ( ) is a peninsula in Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea, that has been occupied by Russia since 2014. It has a pop ...
; there are also disjunct populations in the
Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historically ...
and Spain, the latter now considered a
relict A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon. Biology A relict (or relic) is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas. Geology and geomorphology In geology, a r ...
population rather than an introduction by man, and possibly the origin of the European population.Fuentes-Utrilla, P., Squirrell, J., Hollingsworth, P. M. & Gil, L. (2006). ''Ulmus laevis (Pallas) in the
Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula (), ** * Aragonese and Occitan: ''Peninsula Iberica'' ** ** * french: Péninsule Ibérique * mwl, Península Eibérica * eu, Iberiar penintsula also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in southwestern Europe, defi ...
. An introduced or relict tree species? New data from
cpDNA Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is the DNA located in chloroplasts, which are photosynthetic organelles located within the cells of some eukaryotic organisms. Chloroplasts, like other types of plastid, contain a genome separate from that in the cell nuc ...
analysis.'' Genetics Society, Ecological Genetics Group conference, University of Wales Aberystwyth 2006.
''U. laevis'' is rare in the UK, although its random distribution, together with the absence of any record of its introduction, has led at least one British authority to consider it native.Medhurst, J. (2013). ''Archive for the tree detail text Category'',  p30

/ref> NB: The epithet 'white' elm commonly used by British foresters alluded to the ''timber'' of the Ulmus glabra, wych elm.Edlin, H. L. (1947). ''British Woodland Trees'',  p.26. 3rd. edition. London: B. T. Batsford Ltd. The species was first identified, as ''Ulmus laevis'', by
Pallas Pallas may refer to: Astronomy * 2 Pallas asteroid ** Pallas family, a group of asteroids that includes 2 Pallas * Pallas (crater), a crater on Earth's moon Mythology * Pallas (Giant), a son of Uranus and Gaia, killed and flayed by Athena * Pall ...
, in his ''Flora Rossica'' published in 1784.Pallas, P. S. (1784). ''Flora Rossica''. i.75, t.48, f.F. The tree is allogamous and is most closely related to the American elm '' U. americana''.Collin, E. (2003). ''
EUFORGEN European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) is an international network that supports the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Europe. The programme’s tasks include to coordinate and promote ''in situ'' and ...
Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use for European white elm (''Ulmus laevis'').'' IPGRI, Rome, Italy.
Endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
alluvial Alluvium (from Latin ''alluvius'', from ''alluere'' 'to wash against') is loose clay, silt, sand, or gravel that has been deposited by running water in a stream bed, on a floodplain, in an alluvial fan or beach, or in similar settings. Alluv ...
forest, ''U. laevis'' is rarely encountered at elevations above 400 m.Girard, S. (2007). Dossier: L'orme: nouveaux espoirs? ''Forêt entreprise'' No. 175, Juillet 2007, Institut pour le developpement forestier, Paris. Most commonly found along rivers such as the
Volga The Volga (; russian: Во́лга, a=Ru-Волга.ogg, p=ˈvoɫɡə) is the List of rivers of Europe#Rivers of Europe by length, longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Cas ...
and
Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...
, it is one of very few elms tolerant of prolonged waterlogged,
anoxic The term anoxia means a total depletion in the level of oxygen, an extreme form of hypoxia or "low oxygen". The terms anoxia and hypoxia are used in various contexts: * Anoxic waters, sea water, fresh water or groundwater that are depleted of diss ...
ground conditions. The species is threatened by
habitat destruction Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...
and disturbance in some countries, notably Spain. Flood control schemes are particularly harmful, as seed dispersion is reliant on floods, while abstraction from
aquifers An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing, permeable rock, rock fractures, or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt). Groundwater from aquifers can be extracted using a water well. Aquifers vary greatly in their characterist ...
lowering ground water levels has compromised the development of the trees. Although not possessed of an innate genetic resistance to Dutch elm disease, the species is rarely infected in western Europe.


Description

''Ulmus laevis'' is similar in stature to the
wych elm ''Ulmus glabra'' Hudson, the wych elm or Scots elm, has the widest range of the European elm species, from Ireland eastwards to the Urals, and from the Arctic Circle south to the mountains of the Peloponnese and Sicily, where the species reaches i ...
, if rather less symmetric, with a looser, untidy, branch structure and less neatly rounded crown. The tree typically reaches a height and breadth of > 30 m, with a trunk < 2 m d.b.h. The extensive shallow root system ultimately forms distinctive high buttresses around the base of the trunk. The bark is smooth at first, then in early maturity breaks into thin grey scales, which separate with age into a network of grey-brown scales and reddish-brown underbark, and finally is deeply fissured in old age like other elms. The
leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
, alternate, simple
ovate Ovate may refer to: *Ovate (egg-shaped) leaves, tepals, or other botanical parts *Ovate, a type of prehistoric stone hand axe *Ovates, one of three ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd *Vates In modern English, the nouns vates () and ovat ...
with a markedly asymmetric base, < 10 cm long and < 7 cm broad, comparatively thin, often almost papery in texture and very translucent, smooth above with a downy underside. Significantly, the leaf veins do not divide from the central vein to the leaf margin. The leaves are shed earlier in autumn than other species of European elm. The tree is most reliably distinguished from other European elms by its long flower stems, averaging 20 mm. Moreover, the
apetalous Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usually ...
wind-pollinated
flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s are distinctively cream-coloured, appearing before the leaves in early spring in clusters of 15-30; they are 3–4 mm across. The
fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
is a winged
samara Samara ( rus, Сама́ра, p=sɐˈmarə), known from 1935 to 1991 as Kuybyshev (; ), is the largest city and administrative centre of Samara Oblast. The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Samara (Volga), Samara rivers, with ...
< 15 mm long by 10 mm broad with a
ciliate The ciliates are a group of alveolates characterized by the presence of hair-like organelles called cilia, which are identical in structure to flagellum, eukaryotic flagella, but are in general shorter and present in much larger numbers, with a ...
margin, the single round 5 mm
seed A seed is an embryonic plant enclosed in a protective outer covering, along with a food reserve. The formation of the seed is a part of the process of reproduction in seed plants, the spermatophytes, including the gymnosperm and angiospe ...
maturing in late spring. The seeds have a generally high rate of germination, 45–60% for Serbian trees examined by Stilinović.Stilinović, S. (1985): ''Semenarstvo šumskog i ukrasnog drveća i žbunja''. Univerzitet u Beogradu - Šumarski fakultet, Beograd: 1-399/Seed science of forest and decorative trees and bushes, University of Belgrade– Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade: 1-399/ Although the species is
protandrous Sequential hermaphroditism (called dichogamy in botany) is a type of hermaphroditism that occurs in many fish, gastropods, and plants. Sequential hermaphroditism occurs when the individual changes its sex at some point in its life. In particular, ...
, levels of self-pollination can be high The tree can grow very rapidly; where planted in persistently moist soil, trunk width of 13-year-old trees increased by 4 cm per annum at breast height (d.b.h.).Brookes, A. H. (2020). ''Disease-resistant elm cultivars''. Butterfly Conservation,
Lulworth Lulworth is the popular name for an area on the coast of Dorset, South West England notable for its castle and cove. However, there is no actual place or feature called simply "Lulworth", the villages are East and West Lulworth and the coastal f ...
, England.

/ref> The species differs from its closest relative, the
American elm ''Ulmus americana'', generally known as the American elm or, less commonly, as the white elm or water elm, is a species of elm native to eastern North America, naturally occurring from Nova Scotia west to Alberta and Montana, and south to Flor ...
, mainly in the irregular crown structure and frequent
epicormic shoots An epicormic shoot is a shoot growing from an epicormic bud, which lies underneath the bark of a trunk, stem, or branch of a plant. Epicormic buds lie dormant beneath the bark, their growth suppressed by hormones from active shoots higher up ...
, features which also give the tree a distinctive winter silhouette. Republished 2004 Cambridge University Press, Bean, W. J. (1981). ''Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain'', 7th edition. Murray, London. The American elm also has less acute leaf buds, longer petioles, narrower leaves, and a deeper apical notch in the samara which reaches the seed.Chater, A. O. (1996).'Ulmus laevis naturalized in Cards, VC46'. ''BSBI News 75''  p.63. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland

/ref> Image:Wych elm flower.jpg, ''U. laevis'' flowers; note long stems File:Ulmus laevis flowers - Keila.jpg, Flowers and bud File:Ulmus laevis samarae 1.jpg, Samarae, April; note ciliate margins Image:HW laevis leaf.jpg, ''Ulmus laevis'' leaf Image: U laevis leaf underside.jpg, Leaf underside; note undivided venation beyond lobe File:Бял бряст - листа (есен).jpg, ''U. laevis'' autumn colour File:Ulmus laevis bark Ada Ciganlija.jpg, Bark in early maturity File:Ulmus laevis bark Eibergen.jpg, Bark at maturity (age 100) File:Fladderiep te Heure bij Borculo.jpg, Bole of old tree File:Ulmus laevis. Inverleith Park (opposite Inverleith Place), Edinburgh (1).jpg, Typical epicormic shoots and dense branching File:Ulmus laevis, incipient buttressing.jpg, Incipient buttressing, 20-year-old tree File:Ulmus laevis bole, Sutton Veny, UK.jpg, Bole of ancient tree, showing buttressing and epicormic brush. Image:UlmusBrettwurzel.jpg, ''U. laevis'' buttresses Image:Ulmus laevis root structure.jpg, Surface root structure exposed by bank erosion


Pests and diseases

Like other European
elm Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus ''Ulmus'' in the plant family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting the temperate and tropical-montane regions of North ...
s, natural populations of the European white elm have little innate resistance to
Dutch elm disease Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by a member of the sac fungi (Ascomycota) affecting elm trees, and is spread by elm bark beetles. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease was accidentally introduced into Americas, America ...
, although research by
Irstea The Institut national de recherche en sciences et technologies pour l'environnement et l'agriculture (IRSTEA), formerly known as Cemagref, was a public research institute in France focusing on land management issues, such as water resources and agr ...
has isolated clones able to survive inoculation with the causal fungus, initially losing < 70% of their foliage, but regenerating strongly the following year.Solla et al. (2005). Screening European Elms for Resistance to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. ''Forest Science'', 134–141. 51 (2) 2005. Society of American Foresters. Moreover, the tree is not favoured by the vector bark beetles, which colonize it only when there are no other elm alternatives available,Collin, E., Bilger, I., Eriksson, G., & Turok, J. (2000). The conservation of elm genetic resources in Europe. In Dunn, C. P. (Ed.) (2000). ''The elms: breeding, conservation & disease management''. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston. an uncommon situation in western Europe. Indeed, in a study of elm in Flanders, not one example of ''U. laevis'' was found to be afflicted by Dutch elm disease.Vander Mijnsbrugge, K., Vanden Broeck, A., & Van Slycken, J. (2005). A study of Ulmus laevis in Flanders (Northern Belgium). ''Belgian Journal of Botany'', Vol. 138, No. 2 (2005), 199–204. Royal Botanical Society of Belgium. Meanwhile in France, the IRSTEA clone F298L completely recovered four years after natural infection.Brookes, A. H. (2020). ''Great Fontley Elm Trial, 2020 Report''. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England. Research in Spain has indicated that it is the presence of an antifeedant
triterpene Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...
,
alnulin Taraxasterol (anthesterin) is a triterpene derived from the mevalonate pathway and is found in dandelions. Biosynthesis The precursor for the biosynthesis of taraxasterol is squalene. In the first step of this formation squalene is cyclized wi ...
, at a concentration of 200 μg/g which renders the tree unattractive to the beetles. Ergo: the tree's decline in western Europe has been chiefly owing to woodland clearance in river valleys, and river management systems eliminating flooding, not disease. However, in 2020, it was noted by the Dutch forestry commission that many ''laevis'' in
Zeeland , nl, Ik worstel en kom boven("I struggle and emerge") , anthem = "Zeeuws volkslied"("Zeelandic Anthem") , image_map = Zeeland in the Netherlands.svg , map_alt = , m ...
were succumbing to Dutch elm disease, Calle, J., Calle, L., Kopinga, J., Meffert, J. (2020). Nu ook iepziekte in fladderiep. ('Now also elm disease in White Elm'). ''Natuur Bos Landschap'', 164–168, October 2020. likewise in
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
, England. It was noted by Jouin at
Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand E ...
, and a century later by Mittempergher and Santini in Italy, that ''U. laevis'' had a very low susceptibility to the elm leaf beetle ''
Xanthogaleruca luteola ''Xanthogaleruca luteola'', commonly known as the elm-leaf beetle, is a beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae that is native to Europe but invasive in other parts of the world.http://cisr.ucr.edu/elm_leaf_beetle.html - Center for Invasive Sp ...
''. Research in Germany has established that the tree is also eschewed by the Zig Zag sawfly ''
Aproceros leucopoda ''Aproceros'' is a genus of insects in the family Argidae Argidae is a large family of sawflies, containing some 800 species worldwide, primarily in tropical regions. The larvae are phytophagous, and commonly can be found feeding (and often p ...
''.
Elwes Elwes () is an English surname whose spelling over the years has included Helwish, Helewise, Helwys, Elwaiss, Elwaies and Elway. It may refer to: * Columba Cary-Elwes (1903–1994), English Benedictine monk * Elwes baronets, 1660–1787 * Eva Elwes ...
observed that trees planted at Ugbrooke in Devon were infested with ''
Cacopsylla ulmi ''Cacopsylla ulmi'' is an insect of the Psyllidae family. It mainly feeds on Elm Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus ''Ulmus'' in the plant family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of th ...
'',Jerinić-Prodanović, D. (2006). A new jumping louse, Cacopsylla ulmi Förster (Homoptera, Psyllidae) on elm in Serbia. ''Acta entomologica serbica''. 2006, 11 (1/2): 11–18

/ref> which he had never found on any other elm in Britain, an affliction confirmed many years later by Richard Hook Richens, Richens, who discovered the specimens of ''U. laevis'' grown at
Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is a ...
were the only elms in the Gardens afflicted by the louse, and the aphid ''
Tinocallis platani ''Tinocallis platani'' is a species of aphid Aphids are small sap-sucking insects and members of the superfamily Aphidoidea. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The gr ...
''.Richens, R. H. (1983). ''Elm''.  p.64. Cambridge University Press. The species has a slight to moderate susceptibility to
elm yellows Elm yellows is a plant disease of elm trees that is spread by leafhoppers or by root grafts."Elm Yellows." Elmcare.Com. 19 Mar. 2008 . Elm yellows, also known as elm phloem necrosis, is very aggressive, with no known cure. Elm yellows occurs in the ...
.


Cultivation

''U. laevis'' is essentially a riparian tree, able to withstand over 100 days of continual flooding,Spohn, M. (2008). ''Trees of Britain & Europe'' (Black's Nature Guides), 256 p. A & C Black, although it is intolerant of saline condition

Spanish trees were found to be
calcifuge A calcifuge is a plant that does not tolerate alkaline (basic) soil. The word is derived from the Latin 'to flee from chalk'. These plants are also described as ericaceous, as the prototypical calcifuge is the genus ''Erica'' (heaths). It is not ...
, preferring slightly acid, siliceous soils, and also drought-intolerant, their
xylem Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants, the other being phloem. The basic function of xylem is to transport water from roots to stems and leaves, but it also transports nutrients. The word ''xylem'' is derived from ...
vessels prone to drought-stress cavitation.Venturas, M. ''et al.'' (2013). Ulmus laevis Pall. a native elm in the Iberian peninsula: a multidisciplinary approach. ''Abstracts. 3rd International Elm Conference 2013. The elm after 100 years of Dutch elm disease.'' Florence 2013.  p.48. In England, the tree failed to prosper in chalk stream valleys, where the soil was predominantly black peat, named 'Adventurers' for the Adventurers' Land
SSSI A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Great Britain or an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) in the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom and Isle of ...
in
Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and North ...
, owing to dehydration in summer. Trees planted in dry ground are notoriously short-lived. Pokorny, J. (1974). ''Colour Guide to Familiar Trees, Leaves, Bark and Fruit''. Octopus, Czechoslovakia. ''U. laevis'' is comparatively weak-wooded, much more so than field elm ''
Ulmus minor ''Ulmus minor'' Mill., the field elm, is by far the most polymorphic of the European species, although its taxonomy remains a matter of contention. Its natural range is predominantly south European, extending to Asia Minor and Iran; its northern ...
'', and thus an inappropriate choice for exposed locations. In trials in southern England by
Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation (BC) is a UK-wide nonprofit environmentalist organization and charity dedicated to conserving butterflies, moths, and the environment. The charity uses its research to provide advice on how to conserve and restore butterfly ...
, young trees of <5 m height were badly damaged by wind gusts of 40
knots A knot is a fastening in rope or interwoven lines. Knot may also refer to: Places * Knot, Nancowry, a village in India Archaeology * Knot of Isis (tyet), symbol of welfare/life. * Minoan snake goddess figurines#Sacral knot Arts, entertainme ...
(75 km/h) in midsummer storms. The species was never widely introduced to the United States, but is represented at several arboreta. ''Ulmus effusa'', supplied by the
Späth nursery The Späth (often spelt ''Spaeth'') family created one of the world's most notable plant nurseries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nursery had been founded in 1720 by Christoph Späth but removed to the erstwhile district of Baumschulen ...
of Berlin, was planted at the
Dominion Arboretum The Dominion Arboretum (french: Arboretum du Dominion) is an arboretum part of the Central Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally begun in 1889, the Arboretum covers about of rolling land ...
,
Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
, Canada, in 1896, as ''U. pedunculata''. In the Far East, the tree has been planted in
Xinjiang Xinjiang, SASM/GNC: ''Xinjang''; zh, c=, p=Xīnjiāng; formerly romanized as Sinkiang (, ), officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR), is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China (PRC), located in the northwest ...
province and elsewhere in northern China; planting in
Tongliao Tongliao (; mn, ''Tüŋliyou qota'', Mongolian Cyrillic: Байшинт хот) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. The area is and as of the 2020 census, its population was 2,873,168 (3,139,153 i ...
City is known to have been particularly successful. White elm is also known to have been introduced to Australia.Spencer, R., Hawker, J. and Lumley, P. (1991). ''Elms in Australia'', Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Australia. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the tree has enjoyed a small renaissance in England. A popular larval host plant of the
white-letter hairstreak The white-letter hairstreak (''Satyrium w-album'') is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. Appearance and behaviour A dark little butterfly that spends the majority of its life in the tree tops, feeding on honeydew, making it best observed thr ...
''Satyrium w-album'' butterfly across Europe, the elm is now being planted by Butterfly Conservation and other groups to restore local populations decimated by the effects of Dutch elm disease on native or archaeophytic elms. The
Cheshire Wildlife Trust The Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT) is a wildlife trust covering the county of Cheshire and parts of the counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, England. The trust's chairman is Bill Stothart. It manages 43 nature reserves totalling over 470 ...
, for example, planted numerous white elms on its reserves in the former
Vale Royal A vale is a type of valley. Vale may also refer to: Places Georgia * Vale, Georgia, a town in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region Norway * Våle, a historic municipality Portugal * Vale (Santa Maria da Feira), a former civil parish in the municipali ...
district of the county. File:Ulmus laevis (haaksbergseweg eibergen) 080211a.jpg, ''U. laevis'' 'Helena' as street trees, Eibergen, Netherlands File:Seattle - Roanoke Park Ulmis laevis 01.jpg, ''U. laevis'', Roanoke Park, Capitol Hill, Seattle, US (planted 1910) File:Ulmen sachsenplatz dresden 2019-05-07 -5.jpg, Trimmed ''U. laevis'', Sachsenplatz, Dresden (2019) File:Windblown laevis on chalk of Salisbury Plain, UK, 2km from Stonehenge.jpg, Windblown ''laevis'' on chalk, Salisbury Plain, UK File:WP U. laevis on chalk.jpg, ''U. laevis'' slow growth on chalk, 4 m in 15 years


Introduction to the UK and Ireland

''U. laevis'' is probably not native to the United Kingdom despite its random occurrence in the countryside, although the date and circumstances of its introduction have not survived. The earliest published references to the tree (as ''U. effusa'', citing
Willdenow Carl Ludwig Willdenow (22 August 1765 – 10 July 1812) was a German botanist, pharmacist, and plant taxonomist. He is considered one of the founders of phytogeography, the study of the geographic distribution of plants. Willdenow was al ...
) were in Sibthorp's ''Flora Oxoniensis'' (1794), and (as ''U. effusa'' Willd. but without description) in Miller's posthumously revised ''Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary'' (1807).Miller, P. (1807)
''The Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary''
Revised by Thomas Martyn, Regius Professor of Botany, University of Cambridge.
The first specimen to be reported in cultivation, in 1838, was at
Whiteknights Park Whiteknights Park, or the Whiteknights Campus of the University of Reading, is the principal campus of that university. The park covers the area of the manor of Earley Whiteknights, also known as Earley St Nicholas and Earley Regis. Whit ...
,
Reading Reading is the process of taking in the sense or meaning of Letter (alphabet), letters, symbols, etc., especially by Visual perception, sight or Somatosensory system, touch. For educators and researchers, reading is a multifaceted process invo ...
, which featured an elm grove;Hofland, Mrs. (1819). ''A descriptive account of the mansion and gardens of White-Knights: a seat of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough'' Private publication, Londo

the tree measured in height, suggesting it had been planted at the end of the 18th century. However, the authenticity of the Whiteknights tree is a matter of contention; it flowered but did not set fertile seed, which suggested to Loudon that it might be ''U. campestris'' ( Ulmus minor 'Atinia', ''U. minor'' 'Atinia'), or, on account of it not producing suckers, possibly ''U. montana'' (: ''U. glabra''). Moreover, Whiteknights was supplied by the
Lee and Kennedy Lee and Kennedy were two families of prominent Scottish nurserymen in partnership for three generations at the Vineyard Nursery in Hammersmith, west of London. Contains biographical entries concerning the Lees and Kennedys. "For many years," wrote ...
nursery of Hammersmith, which is not known to have stocked ''U. laevis''. A tree at
Syon Park Syon Park is the garden of Syon House, the London home of the Duke of Northumberland in Isleworth in the London Borough of Hounslow The London Borough of Hounslow () is a London borough in West London, England, forming part of Outer London. ...
identified by Elwes & Henry as ''U. laevis'' was later considered by
Bean A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes th ...
as more closely resembling ''U. americana'' by dint of its symmetrical branch arching. The species was not reported from the wild until 1943, with the discovery of a tree in a
Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
hedgerow.''Online Atlas of the British & Irish Flora''
/ref> It is possible the tree's distribution was associated with
Capability Brown Lancelot Brown (born c. 1715–16, baptised 30 August 1716 – 6 February 1783), more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English gardener and landscape architect, who remains the most famous figure in the history of the English la ...
(1716–1783), known to have favoured ''U. laevis'', which he listed among his preferred "native" (sic) trees.Ignatieva, M. E. and Stewart, G. H. 'Homogeneity of urban biotopes and similarity of landscape design language in former colonial cities', in: McDonnell, M., Hahs, A., & Breuste, J. (eds.) (2009). ''Ecology of Cities and Towns: A comparative approach.'' Part III, 23,  p. 409. Cambridge. This could explain the existence of the seven old specimens discovered by
Elwes Elwes () is an English surname whose spelling over the years has included Helwish, Helewise, Helwys, Elwaiss, Elwaies and Elway. It may refer to: * Columba Cary-Elwes (1903–1994), English Benedictine monk * Elwes baronets, 1660–1787 * Eva Elwes ...
in 1908 on Mount Pleasant within
Ugbrooke Park Ugbrooke House is a stately home in the parish of Chudleigh, Devon, England, situated in a valley between Exeter and Newton Abbot. The home of the Clifford family, the house and grounds are available for guided tours in summer and as an event ven ...
, Devon, designed by Brown in 1761.Stroud, D. (1950). ''Capability Brown''. New edition 1984, Faber & Faber, London. Ugbrooke is four miles from
Mamhead Park Mamhead is a rural village and civil parish near Dawlish and Kenton in Devon, South West England, in the Teignbridge local authority area. Current community venues includMamhead Village Halland The Church of England parish church, dedicated t ...
, which had earlier been planted with numerous exotic trees, notably
holm oak Holm oak may refer to: * '' Quercus ilex'', tree native to South and Southeast Europe and parts of France * '' Quercus rotundifolia'', tree native to the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa * ''Quercus agrifolia ''Quercus agrifolia'', the Cal ...
, collected by its owner, merchant Thomas Ball ( d. 1749) during his commercial travels in Europe.Britton, J. & Brayley, E. W. (1803)
''Beauties of England & Wales''
Vol. 4, Devon & Cornwall, Devonshire,  p 99. Various publishers.
Ball's introductions were known to have been marketed by his head gardener
William Lucombe William Lucombe (before 1720 – after 1785) was a horticulturalist and nurseryman, who discovered and gave his name to the natural hybrid Lucombe Oak ('' Quercus × hispanica'' 'Lucombeana'), a semi-deciduous oak tree. The Lucombe nursery William ...
, who in 1720 founded the first commercial nursery in the south-west at
Exeter Exeter () is a city in Devon, South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter was established as the base of Legio II Augusta under the personal comm ...
,Harvey, J. (1975). ''Early Nurserymen''. Phillimore, Chichester, UK. though an account of trees growing at Mamhead by
Pince Pince (; in older sources also ''Pinica'', hu, Pince) is a settlement southeast of Lendava in the Prekmurje region of Slovenia. It lies close to the extreme eastern point of Slovenia, right on the border with Hungary. Name The Slovene name ''Pinc ...
(grandson of Lucombe) in 1835 makes no mention of ''U. laevis'' nor of any other elms. None of Lucombe's early catalogues are known to survive, and thus the introduction of ''U. laevis'' through south Devon cannot be confirmed. However, the tree does not feature in any of the surviving arboreta accessions lists, or catalogues of the larger, nationally famous, nurseries of the day, and its earliest-known mention in commerce remains in the south-west, in the catalogue of the Ford & Please nursery (as ''U. pedunculata'') at Exeter circa 1836.
James Main James Main (29 May 1886 – 29 December 1909) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Hibernian and the Scotland national football team as a right back. Main suffered fatal internal injuries while playing in a match on Christmas Day 1909, an ...
mentions the tree as 'a native of Hungary' and in 1838 only to be met in 'ornamental plantations', but by 1846 was 'becoming available in (UK) nurseries'. ''U. laevis'', obtained from the
Späth nursery The Späth (often spelt ''Spaeth'') family created one of the world's most notable plant nurseries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nursery had been founded in 1720 by Christoph Späth but removed to the erstwhile district of Baumschulen ...
of Berlin as ''U. effusa'', was planted in
Kew Gardens Kew Gardens is a botanical garden, botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botany, botanical and mycology, mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its li ...
(1895), in the
Ryston Hall Ryston Hall, Ryston, Norfolk, England is a 17th-century country house built by Sir Roger Pratt for himself. The house was constructed between 1669 and 1672 in the Carolean style. In the late 18th century, John Soane made alterations to the hous ...
arboretum,
Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
(1914), and, re-propagated, in
Cambridge University Botanic Garden The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in Cambridge, England, associated with the university Department of Plant Sciences (formerly Botany School). It lies between Trumpington Road to the west, Bateman Street to ...
(1909). Evidently the tree did not gain in popularity, and was overlooked or ignored by most authors of popular guides to trees in Britain during the 20th century, notably Mabey in his ''Flora Britannica''.Books on trees in Britain in the 20th century: Trimble, L. J. F. (1946) ''Trees in Britain'', Macmillan, London. Step, E. (1904). ''Wayside And Woodland Trees. A Pocket Guide To The British Sylva''. Frederick Warne & Co., London. Gurney, R. (1958). ''Trees of Britain''. Faber & Faber, London. Mabey, R. (1998) ''Flora Britannica''. Chatto & Windus, London. The tree is also omitted from Keble-Martin's comprehensive ''Flora of Devon''.Keble-Martin, W., and Fraser, G. (1939). ''Flora of Devon''. Buncle, Arbroath. It is not known whether ''U. laevis'' was introduced to Scotland before the early 20th century. Two of the three specimens supplied by the
Späth nursery The Späth (often spelt ''Spaeth'') family created one of the world's most notable plant nurseries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nursery had been founded in 1720 by Christoph Späth but removed to the erstwhile district of Baumschulen ...
, Berlin, to the
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies ...
in 1902 as ''U. effusa'' may survive in Edinburgh, as it was the practice of the garden to distribute trees about the city; the third specimen was in the garden itself. Other examples can be found in the city, notably in Fettes College grounds opposite Inverleith Allotments, and at the entrance to North Merchiston Cemetery. In Wales, two mature trees with numerous seedlings occur in a small wood at
Rhydyfelin Rhydyfelin (, ''Mill Ford'') is a large village (originally known as Rhydfelen) and part of the community of Pontypridd Town, about two miles to its south east of Pontypridd, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf. It is on the eastern bank ...
near
Aberystwyth Aberystwyth () is a university and seaside town as well as a community in Ceredigion, Wales. Located in the historic county of Cardiganshire, means "the mouth of the Ystwyth". Aberystwyth University has been a major educational location in ...
, while another grows at
Llandegfan Llandegfan (; ; meaning ''The Church of St Tegfan'') is a village on the east of island of Anglesey in Wales. It is part of the community of Cwm Cadnant.Davies (2008) p.180 Population is around 1,580. History and description The original villag ...
,
Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
. In Ireland, the tree is represented by a line of four at the Old Rectory, Kells Road,
Ardee Ardee (; , ) is a town and townland in County Louth, Ireland. It is located at the intersection of the N2, N52, and N33 roads. The town shows evidence of development from the thirteenth century onward but as a result of the continued devel ...
,
County Louth County Louth ( ; ga, An Lú) is a coastal county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. Louth is bordered by the counties of Meath to the south, Monaghan to the west, Armagh to the north and Down to the ...
(, girth , October 2009), and in the Channel Islands, by a clump near the well at
La Seigneurie La Seigneurie is the traditional residence of the Seigneur of Sark. The Seigneur is the head of Sark in the Channel Islands. Michael Beaumont, 22nd Seigneur of Sark Seigneur John Michael Beaumont (20 December 1927 – 3 July 2016) was ...
(Le Manoir),
Sark Sark (french: link=no, Sercq, ; Sercquiais: or ) is a part of the Channel Islands in the southwestern English Channel, off the coast of Normandy, France. It is a royal fief, which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, with its own set of l ...
.Watsonia (2001).  p557
/ref> File:Ulmus laevis at Ugbrooke.jpg, ''U. laevis'',
Ugbrooke Ugbrooke House is a stately home in the parish of Chudleigh, Devon, England, situated in a valley between Exeter and Newton Abbot. The home of the Clifford family, the house and grounds are available for guided tours in summer and as an event ...
,
Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
, 1908 File:Lewisham elm 1.jpg, ''U. laevis'',
Lewisham Lewisham () is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified i ...
,
London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
File:Hebden U. laevis 2.jpg, ''U. laevis'', Hebden,
Yorkshire Dales The Yorkshire Dales is an upland area of the Pennines in the Historic counties of England, historic county of Yorkshire, England, most of it in the Yorkshire Dales National Park created in 1954. The Dales comprise river valleys and the hills ri ...
File:Llandegfan Elm tree.jpg, ''U. laevis'',
Llandegfan Llandegfan (; ; meaning ''The Church of St Tegfan'') is a village on the east of island of Anglesey in Wales. It is part of the community of Cwm Cadnant.Davies (2008) p.180 Population is around 1,580. History and description The original villag ...
,
Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
File:Sutton Veny elm 3.6.jpg, ''U. laevis'',
Sutton Veny Sutton Veny is a village and civil parish in the Wylye valley, to the southeast of the town of Warminster in Wiltshire, England; the village is about from Warminster town centre. 'Sutton' means 'south farmstead' in relation to Norton Bavant, on ...
,
Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...
File:Sutton Veny elm 4.2.jpg, ''U. laevis'',
Sutton Veny Sutton Veny is a village and civil parish in the Wylye valley, to the southeast of the town of Warminster in Wiltshire, England; the village is about from Warminster town centre. 'Sutton' means 'south farmstead' in relation to Norton Bavant, on ...
,
Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...


Notable trees

The two largest known trees in Europe are at Gülitz in Germany (3.1 m d.b.h.), and at Komorów in
Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
(2.96 m d.b.h. in 2011), known as the Witcher (tree). Other veterans survive at
Casteau Casteau ( wa, Castea) is a village of Wallonia and a district of the municipality of Soignies, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. With the other villages Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies, Horrues, Naast, Neufvilles, Soignies (town), and ...
, Belgium (bole-girth 5.15 m), in Rahnsdorf near Berlin (bole-girth 4.5 m) and in Ritvala, Finland (bole-girth 4.49 m). A lane of ''Ulmus laevis'' is found at
Eibergen Eibergen (Low Saxon: ''Eibarge'') is a town and former municipality in Gelderland in the Eastern Netherlands. It is part of the Achterhoek cultural region. The administrative cooperation of about 20 municipalities in this region is the Regio Achte ...
, Netherlands (see Gallery below), while a large, mature specimen is found within the
Alhambra The Alhambra (, ; ar, الْحَمْرَاء, Al-Ḥamrāʾ, , ) is a palace and fortress complex located in Granada, Andalusia, Spain. It is one of the most famous monuments of Islamic architecture and one of the best-preserved palaces of the ...
,
Granada Granada (,, DIN 31635, DIN: ; grc, Ἐλιβύργη, Elibýrgē; la, Illiberis or . ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the fo ...
. ''Ulmus laevis'' has very occasionally been planted as an ornamental tree in the UK, and even more randomly in countryside hedgerows. The UK Champion is at Ferry Farm, on the banks of the Tamar at Harewood,
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a historic county and ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people. Cornwall is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic ...
(27 m high, 1.8 m d.b.h. in 1997). Other examples are few and far between though sometimes of considerable age, surviving amid diseased native elm in Cornwall at
Torpoint Torpoint ( kw, Penntorr) is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar. Torpoint had ...
, and
Pencalenick St Clement ( kw, Klemens) is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated southeast of Truro in the valley of the Tresillian River. Other notable villages within the parish are the much larger Tresillian 1.4 ...
(21 m high,
d.b.h. Diameter at breast height, or DBH, is a standard method of expressing the diameter of the trunk or bole of a standing tree. DBH is one of the most common dendrometric measurements. Tree trunks are measured at the height of an adult's breast, ...
1.75 m),''Tree Register of the British Isles''. and near
Over Wallop Over Wallop is a small village and civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. The village lies close to the border with Wiltshire, approximately northwest of Stockbridge. Over Wallop is the westernmost of the three villages ...
in Hampshire (16 m high, d.b.h. 1.3 m 2016)BSBI, (2016). ''BSBI records for north Hampshire, vc. 12''. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland, Shirehampton, Bristol. The largest-known aggregation in England is the ring of 50 trees planted circa 1950 within a ring of common lime around a former ammunition dump on the elevated chalk of
Salisbury Plain Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in the south western part of central southern England covering . It is part of a system of chalk downlands throughout eastern and southern England formed by the rocks of the Chalk Group and largely lies wi ...
at Hexagon Wood,
Larkhill Larkhill is a garrison town in the civil parish of Durrington, Wiltshire, England. It lies about west of the centre of Durrington village and north of the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge. It is about north of Salisbury. The settlement ...
, about north of
Stonehenge Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, west of Amesbury. It consists of an outer ring of vertical sarsen standing stones, each around high, wide, and weighing around 25 tons, topped by connectin ...
. In the United States, a tree of 31.4 m (103 ft) in height (2015) grows at 3331 NE Hancock Street in
Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
,
Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
; its age is not known. File:Ulmus laevis JPG1b.jpg, ''U. laevis'', Casteau, Belgium File:Bole of ancient Ulmus laevis in hedgerow near Over Wallop, England.jpg, Bole of coppiced ''U. laevis'', girth 410 cm, Over Wallop, UK File:Бял бряст (стар).JPG, Burrs and epicormic shoots on old ''U. laevis'' File:Kopeci szil 2011.11.28..jpg, ''U. laevis'', Căpeni, Romania (2011)


Uses

The timber of the white elm is of poor quality, the cross-grain causing problems when machined, and thus of little practical use, not even as firewood. The density of the timber is significantly lower than that of other European
elms Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the flowering plant genus ''Ulmus'' in the plant family Ulmaceae. They are distributed over most of the Northern Hemisphere, inhabiting the temperate and tropical-montane regions of Nor ...
. However, owing to its rapid growth, tolerance of
soil compaction In geotechnical engineering, soil compaction is the process in which stress applied to a soil causes densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains. When stress is applied that causes densification due to water (or other ...
,
air pollution Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. There are many different types ...
and de-icing salts, the tree has long been used for
amenity In property and land use planning, amenity (lat. ''amoenitās'' “pleasantness, delightfulness”) is something considered to benefit a location, contribute to its enjoyment, and thereby increase its value. Tangible amenities can include the ...
planting in towns and along roadsides.Collin, E. (2003). ''
EUFORGEN European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) is an international network that supports the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Europe. The programme’s tasks include to coordinate and promote ''in situ'' and ...
Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use for European white elm (''Ulmus laevis'').'' IPGRI, Rome, Italy.


Propagation

''U. laevis'' is easily grown from seed sown on ordinary compost and kept well-watered. However, viability can vary greatly from year to year, while the seed is remarkably short-lived. Germination should occur within one week even without heat, the best seedlings attaining as much as half a metre in their first year.Harris, E. (2017). The European White Elm, Ulmus laevis Pall. ''Quarterly Journal of Forestry'', Vol. 111, No. 4, October 2017.  p.261. Royal Forestry Society. Softwood cuttings taken in June is also a reliable method; the cuttings strike very quickly, well within a fortnight, rapidly producing a dense matrix of roots. Image:Ulmus laevis seedlings.jpg, ''U. laevis'' seedlings Image:White Elm rooted cutting.jpg, A rooted cutting of European white elm


Subspecies and varieties

Several putative varieties have been identified. A variety ''celtidea'' from what is now the Ukraine was reported by Rogowicz in the middle of the 19th century, but no examples are known to survive. Another variety ''parvifolia'' has been reported from Serbia.Jovanović, B. & Radulović, S. (1980). Ulmus laevis var. parvifolia. ''Glasn. Prir. Muz. u Beogradu''. (''Bulletin of the Natural History Museum, Belgrade''). 35 : 32, 38 (1980).
Belgrade Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
, Serbia.
'Simplicidens' is a very rare variety, the only example known to survive is at the
National Botanic Garden of Latvia The National Botanic Garden of Latvia ( lv, Nacionālais botāniskais dārzs) is a botanical garden in Salaspils, Latvia. It is one of the largest botanical gardens in the Baltic states. History The present institution was founded in 1956, but t ...
in
Salaspils Salaspils (; german: Kircholm; sv, Kirkholm) is a town in Latvia, the administrative centre of Salaspils Municipality. The town is situated on the northern bank of the Daugava river, 18 kilometers to the south-east of the city of Riga. Histo ...
.


Cultivars

Compared with the other European species of elm, ''U. laevis'' has received scant horticultural attention, there being only eight recorded cultivars: In Russia other ornamental forms are recognized: f. ''argentovariegata'', f. ''rubra'', and f. ''tiliifolia''. A pyramidal form was reported in 1888 from the Fredericksfelde cemetery in Berlin by Bolle. A line of similar monopodial trees grows (2019) on the island in the
Lot Lot or LOT or The Lot or ''similar'' may refer to: Common meanings Areas * Land lot, an area of land * Parking lot, for automobiles *Backlot, in movie production Sets of items *Lot number, in batch production *Lot, a set of goods for sale togethe ...
at Entraygues, France. File:Barjols2013 007.jpg, Columnar form, Entraygues, France


Hybrids

''U. laevis'' does not hybridize naturally, in common with the American elm (''U. americana'') to which it is closely related. However, in experiments at the
Arnold Arboretum The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a botanical research institution and free public park, located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1872, it is the oldest public arboretum in N ...
, it was successfully crossed with ''U. thomasii'' and ''U. pumila''; no such crosses have ever been released to commerce.


Accessions


Europe

* Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie,
Monthodon Monthodon () is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Population Sights * Arboretum de la Petite Loiterie See also *Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department The following is a list of the 272 communes of the Indre-e ...
, France. No details available * Arboretum Freiburg-Günterstal, Germany, no details available *
Brighton & Hove Brighton and Hove () is a city and unitary authority in East Sussex, England. It consists primarily of the settlements of Brighton and Hove, alongside neighbouring villages. Often referred to synonymously as Brighton, the City of Brighton and H ...
City Council, UK,
NCCPG Plant Heritage, formerly known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG), is a botanical conservation organisation in the United Kingdom and a registered charity. It was founded in 1978 to combine the talents of b ...
Elm Collection. Ten trees at Hove Recreation Ground, Hove. *
Copenhagen University The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public research university in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in Scandinavia after Uppsala Unive ...
Botanic Garden, Denmark. No details available. * ELTE Botanic Garden,
Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...
, Hungary. Acc. nos. 1998-0718, 1998-0719. *
Grange Farm Arboretum The Grange Farm Arboretum is a small private arboretum comprising 3 hectares accommodating over 800 trees, mostly native and ornamental species or cultivars, notably oaks, ashes, walnuts and elms, growing on a calcareous loam.Ostler, J. (2009) ' ...
, Sutton St. James, Spalding,
Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-west, Leicestershire ...
, UK. Acc. no. 502. * Great
Fontley Funtley – from the Anglo-Saxon, "Funtaleg", "spring (hydrology), spring field (clearing)", is a hamlet or exurb north of Fareham (borough), Fareham, Hampshire, England. It forms a projection towards the South Downs National Park and is gene ...
''
Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation (BC) is a UK-wide nonprofit environmentalist organization and charity dedicated to conserving butterflies, moths, and the environment. The charity uses its research to provide advice on how to conserve and restore butterfly ...
'' Elm Trials plantation, UK. Two planted 2003, grown from cuttings of specimen at RBG Wakehurst Place. * Hortus Botanicus Nationalis,
Salaspils Salaspils (; german: Kircholm; sv, Kirkholm) is a town in Latvia, the administrative centre of Salaspils Municipality. The town is situated on the northern bank of the Daugava river, 18 kilometers to the south-east of the city of Riga. Histo ...
, Latvia. Acc. nos. 18136, 18140. * Linnaean Gardens of Uppsala, Sweden. Acc. no. 1930-1014. *
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies ...
, UK. Acc. no. 20070643, from seed wild collected in Val d'Allier, France. *
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. An internationally important botanical research and education institution, it employs 1,100 ...
, UK. Acc. nos. 1969-17302, 1973-11712. * Royal Botanic Gardens,
Wakehurst Place Wakehurst, previously known as Wakehurst Place, is a house and botanic gardens in West Sussex, England, owned by the National Trust but used and managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is near Ardingly, West Sussex in the High Weald (g ...
, UK. Acc. no. 1973-21048. *
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens The Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is an arboretum comprising 72 hectares (180 acres) accommodating over 42,000 trees and shrubs in about 12,000 taxa, notably a collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron. The Gardens are located nor ...
,
Romsey Romsey ( ) is a historic market town in the county of Hampshire, England. Romsey was home to the 17th-century philosopher and economist William Petty and the 19th-century British prime minister, Lord Palmerston, whose statue has stood in the t ...
,
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial county, ceremonial and non-metropolitan county, non-metropolitan counties of England, county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English citi ...
. UK. Acc. no. 2016.0385 *
Tallinn Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju ' ...
Botanic Garden,
Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...
. No accession details available. *
Thenford House Thenford House, Thenford, Northamptonshire, England is an 18th-century country house built for Michael Wodhull, the bibliophile and translator. Wodhull's architect is unknown. The style is Palladian architecture, Palladian although with earlier R ...
arboretum,
Northamptonshire Northamptonshire (; abbreviated Northants.) is a county in the East Midlands of England. In 2015, it had a population of 723,000. The county is administered by two unitary authorities: North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. It is ...
, UK. No details available. * 'The Leys',
University Parks The Oxford University Parks, commonly referred to locally as the University Parks, or just The Parks, is a large parkland area slightly northeast of the city centre in Oxford, England. The park is bounded to the east by the River Cherwell, thoug ...
,
Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
, UK. Acc. no. 02678. * Westonbirt Arboretum, UK. Tetbury, Gloucestershire, Glos., UK. Acc. no. 1995/322 * Wijdemeren City Council, Netherlands. Elm Collection. Planted 1990 Tjalk, Loosdrecht; 2007 Hinderdam, Nederhorst den Berg; elm lane De Kwakel, Kortenhoef in 2009.


North America

*
Arnold Arboretum The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a botanical research institution and free public park, located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1872, it is the oldest public arboretum in N ...
, US. Acc. nos. 17910, 637-79, 6951, 753-80. * Brenton Arboretum, Dallas Center, Iowa, US. No details available. * Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York City, US. Acc. no. X02589. *
Dominion Arboretum The Dominion Arboretum (french: Arboretum du Dominion) is an arboretum part of the Central Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally begun in 1889, the Arboretum covers about of rolling land ...
, Canada. No details available * Longwood Gardens, US. Acc. nos. 1964-0568, 1964-1119. * Morton Arboretum, Illinois, US. Acc. nos. 1302-27, 446-48, 492-64, 27-98.


Nurseries

* Arboretum Waasland, Nieuwkerken-Waas, Belgium * Boomkwekerij Oirschot, Oirschot, Netherlands * Landford Trees, Salisbury, U

* Lorenz von Ehren, Hamburg, Germany

* Noordplant, Glimmen, Netherlands * Pan-Global Plants, Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, UK * UmbraFlor, Spello, Italy *Van Den Berk (UK) Ltd.

London, UK


References


External links


Collin, E., Ulmus laevis'': Technical Guidelines for Genetic Conservation and Use', (2003)
European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) * ''Ulmus laevis'' distribution map: linnaeus.nrm.s


''Ulmus laevis''
- distribution map, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) * Sheet described as ''U. effusa'' Willd. * Sheet described as ''U. effusa'' = ''U. pedunculata'' Foug. * Sheet described as ''U. laevis'' Pall. * Sheet described as ''U. laevis'' Pall. {{Taxonbar, from=Q147492 Ulmus, laevis Ornamental trees Trees of Europe Flora of France Flora of Finland Flora of Russia Flora of Ukraine Garden plants of Europe Ulmus articles with images Elm species and varieties Plants described in 1784