Examine individual changes

'{{Taxobox {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Ulmus laevis''}} | name = ''Ulmus laevis'' | image = Llandegfan Elm tree.jpg | image_caption = European White Elm in winter | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Rosales]] | familia = [[Ulmaceae]] | genus = ''[[Ulmus]]'' | species = '''''U. laevis''''' | binomial = ''Ulmus laevis'' | binomial_authority = [[Peter Simon Pallas|Pall.]] | synonyms = *''Ulmus acuta'' <small>Dumrt.</small> *''Ulmus ciliata'' <small>Ehrh. </small> *''Ulmus effusa'' <small>Willd., Loudon, Willkomm, Fliche</small> *''Ulmus laevis'' var. ''[[celtidea]]'' <small>Rogowicz</small> *''Ulmus laevis'' var. ''simplicidens'' <small>(E. Wolf) Grudz.</small> *''Ulmus octandra'' <small>Schkuhr</small> *''Ulmus pedunculata'' <small>Foug.</small> *''Ulmus petropolitana'' <small>Gand.</small> *''Ulmus racemosa'' <small>('''not''' Thomas), Borkh.</small> *''Ulmus reticulata'' <small>Dumrt.</small> *''Ulmus simplicidens'' <small>E. Wolf</small> }} '''''Ulmus laevis''''' <small>Pall.</small>, the '''European White Elm''', '''Fluttering Elm, Spreading Elm''' and, in the [[USA]], '''Russian Elm''', is a large [[deciduous]] [[tree]] native to [[Europe]], from [[France]]<ref>Photographs of ''U. laevis'' (''L'Orme lisse'') in France: in the Forêt du Romersberg, Moselle, [http://krapooarboricole.wordpress.com/category/arbres-coup-de-coeur/ormes/page/2/] (bottom of page), and near Walbourg, Bas-Rhin,[http://krapooarboricole.wordpress.com/category/arbres-coup-de-coeur/ormes/page/3/] (top of page); Archive Krapo arboricole</ref> northeast to southern [[Finland]], east as far as the [[Urals]], and southeast to [[Bulgaria]] and the [[Crimea]]; there is also a disjunct population in the [[Caucasus]]. Moreover, a small number of trees found in [[Spain]] is now considered a [[relict]] population rather than an introduction by man, and possibly the origin of the European population.<ref name=Fuentes-Utrilla>Fuentes-Utrilla, P., Squirrell, J., Hollingsworth, P. M. & Gil, L. (2006). ''Ulmus laevis (Pallas) in the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. An introduced or relict tree species? New data from [[cpDNA]] analysis.'' Genetics Society, Ecological Genetics Group conference, University of Wales Aberystwyth 2006.</ref> Essentially endemic to alluvial forest, it is rarely encountered at elevations above 400 m.<ref name=Girard>Girard, S. (2007). Dossier: L'orme: nouveaux espoirs? ''Forêt entreprise'' No. 175, Juillet 2007, Institut pour le developpement forestier, Paris.</ref> Most commonly found along rivers such as the [[Volga]] and [[Danube]], it is one of very few elms tolerant of prolonged waterlogged, [[Hypoxia (environmental)|anoxic]] ground conditions. The White Elm is [[allogamous]] and is most closely related to the American Elm ''[[Ulmus americana|U. americana]]''. ==Description== The tree is similar in stature to the [[Wych Elm]], if rather less symmetric, with a looser branch structure and less neatly rounded crown. It typically reaches a height and breadth of > 30 m, with a trunk < 2 m [[diameter at breast height|d.b.h]]. The extensive shallow root system ultimately forms distinctive high buttresses around the base of the trunk. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[deciduous]], alternate, simple [[leaf shape|ovate]] with a markedly lop-sided base, < 10&nbsp;cm long and < 7&nbsp;cm broad, comparatively thin, often almost papery in texture and very translucent, smooth above with a downy underside. The [[apetalous]] wind-pollinated [[flower]]s appear before the leaves in early spring, produced in clusters of 15-30; they are 3–4&nbsp;mm across on 20&nbsp;mm long stems. In England, trees grown from seed flower in March, commencing at ages of between 7 and 12 years. The [[fruit]] is a winged [[Samara (fruit)|samara]] < 15&nbsp;mm long by 10&nbsp;mm broad with a [[ciliate]] margin, the single round 5&nbsp;mm [[seed]] maturing in late spring. ''U. laevis'' sheds its leaves earlier in the autumn than other species of European elm. The tree is most reliably distinguished from other European elms by the long flower stems, and is most closely related to the [[American Elm]] ''U. americana'', from which it differs mainly in the irregular crown shape and frequent small sprout stems on the trunk and branches. Its irregular crown and frequent sprout-stems give ''U.laevis'' a densely-branched winter silhouette - a useful diagnostic feature at this season.<ref name=Bean>Bean, W. J. (1981). ''Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain'', 7th edition. Murray, London.</ref><ref name=Elwes>Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). ''The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland''. Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/]</ref><ref name=White>White, J. & More D. (2003). ''The Trees of Britain & Northern Europe'', Cassell's, London.</ref> ''U. laevis'' suckers from roots, but not stools. Although the species is [[protandrous]], levels of self-pollination are high<ref name=Hans>Hans, A. S. (1981). Compatibility and Crossability Studies in Ulmus. ''Silvae Genetica'' 30, 4 - 5 (1981).</ref> <gallery> Image:Ulmus laevis root structure.jpg|Surface root structure exposed by bank erosion. Photo: Eric Collin, CEMAGREF, France Image:UlmusBrettwurzel.jpg|''U. laevis'' buttresses Image:Ulmus laevis twig.jpg|Twig of young tree. Photo: Vincent Seigner, CEMAGREF, France </gallery> <gallery> Image:Wych elm flower.jpg|''U. laevis'' flowers; note long stems Image: Laevis seed 3.jpg|''U. laevis'' seed; note ciliate margins Image:Ulmus laevis leaf, Nov..jpg|''U. laevis'' foliage; autumn colour Image: panorama_ValAllier_1258JPG_light.JPG|Val d'Allier, France: typical habitat. Photo: E. Collin, Cemagref </gallery> ==Pests and diseases== Like other European [[elm]]s, natural populations of the European White Elm have little innate resistance to [[Dutch elm disease]], although research by [[Cemagref]] has isolated clones able to survive inoculation with the causal fungus, initially losing < 70% of their foliage, but regenerating strongly the following year. Moreover, the tree is not favoured by the vector bark beetles, which colonize it only when there are no other elm alternatives available,<ref name=Collin>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.</ref> an uncommon situation in western Europe. Research in Spain<ref name=Martín-Benito>Martín-Benito D., Concepción García-Vallejo M., Alberto Pajares J., López D. 2005. Triterpenes in elms in Spain. ''Can. J. For. Res.'' 35: 199–205 (2005). [http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/rp/rppdf/x04-158.pdf]</ref> has indicated that it is the presence of a [[triterpene]], [[alnulin]], that renders the tree bark unattractive to the beetles. Ergo: the tree's decline in western Europe is chiefly owing to woodland clearance in river valleys, not disease. The species has a slight to moderate susceptibility to [[Elm Yellows]], but a very low susceptibility to the elm leaf beetle ''[[Xanthogaleruca luteola]]''.<ref name=Mittempergher>Mittempergher, L. & Santini, A. (2004). The History of Elm Breeding. ''Invest. Agrar.: Sist Recur For. 2004 13 (1), 161-177.</ref> ==Cultivation== Although ideally suited to wet ground conditions, the tree can still grow, albeit more slowly, on drier sites including chalk downland. However, one overriding factor in choosing a site is Exposure. White Elm is comparatively weak-wooded, much more so than Field Elm ''[[Ulmus minor]]'', and thus an inappropriate choice for windy locations. In trials in southern England by ''[[Butterfly Conservation]]'', young trees of < 5 m height were badly damaged by gusts of 40 [[knot (speed)|knots]] (75 [[km/h]]) in midsummer. ''Ulmus laevis'' is occasionally planted as an ornamental tree. In the [[UK]] examples are few and far between but sometimes of great age. Mature specimens survive today amid diseased native elm near [[Torpoint]] in [[Cornwall]];<ref>http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=13849</ref> others can be found in [[Edinburgh]] (The Meadows area and Powderhall Road), [[London]] (Riverside Walk, near [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]], and at [[Peckham]] and [[Tooting]]), [[Chelmsford]] (beside the [[River Chelmer|Chelmer]] at the Rivermead Campus) [2009], [[Brighton & Hove]], and near [[St. Albans]]. The species was never widely introduced to the [[USA]], but is represented at several arboreta. In the Far East, the tree has been planted in [[Xinjiang]] province and elsewhere in Northern China; planting in [[Tongliao]] City is known to have been particularly successful. White Elm is also known to have been introduced to [[Australia]].<ref name=spencer>Spencer, R., Hawker, J. and Lumley, P. (1991). ''Elms in Australia'', Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 0-7241-9962-4</ref> In recent years, the tree has enjoyed a small renaissance in England. A popular larval host plant of the [[White-letter Hairstreak]] ''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.<ref name=Brookes>Brookes, A. H. (2006). ''An evaluation of disease-resistant hybrid and exotic elms as larval host plants for the White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album, Part 1.'' [http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/conservation.htm#Elm%20Report]. Butterfly Conservation. Lulworth, UK.</ref> The [[Cheshire Wildlife Trust]], for example, is planting 1,000 White Elms on its reserves in the former [[Vale Royal]] district of the county. ==Uses== The timber of the White Elm is of poor quality and thus of little use to man, not even as firewood. Its density is significantly lower than that of other European elms. ==Propagation== Usually easy to grow from seed sown to a depth of 6&nbsp;mm in ordinary compost and kept well-watered. However, as seed viability can vary greatly from year to year, softwood cuttings taken in June may be a more reliable method. The cuttings strike very quickly, well within a fortnight, rapidly producing a dense matrix of roots. ==Notable trees== [[File:CV6Elms73430.jpg|thumb|left|140px|European White Elm, Alfriston, East Sussex, UK (2006)]] The three largest known trees in Europe are at [[Gülitz-Reetz|Gülitz]] in [[Germany]] (3.1 m d.b.h.), at [[Komorów, Świdnica County|Komorów]] in [[Poland]] (2.96 m d.b.h.), and at Bergemolo in [[Piedmont]], Italy. The "Olmo di Bergemolo", over 200 years old, has a girth of 6.2 m (2008) and a height of 26 m. [http://www.patriarchinatura.it/patriarchi_regione/piemonte.php] A veteran between 300 and 500 years old, with a girth of 4.5 metres, survives in Rahnsdorf near Berlin.<ref>www.bemerkenswerte-baeume.de, [http://www.bemerkenswerte-baeume.de/baum/baum_portraits/Rahnsdorf_Ulme.html] www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de,[http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/stadtgruen/stadtbaeume/de/einzelbaeume/trept_koepe/dorfulme.shtml]</ref> The UK Champion is at Ferry Farm, [[Harewood, Cornwall|Harewood]], [[Cornwall]] (27 m high, 1.8 m d.b.h.). In the USA, a reputedly magnificent tree grows in [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]], but its dimensions and age are not known. ==Subspecies and varieties== Several putative varieties have been identified. A variety [[Ulmus laevis var. celtidea|''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 [[Ulmus laevis var. parvifolia|''parvifolia'']] has been reported from [[Serbia]].<ref name="Jovanović">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]], Serbia.</ref> ==Forms== In [[Russia]] several ornamental forms are recognized: f. ''aureovariegata'', f. ''argentovariegata'', f. ''rubra'', and f. ''tiliifolia''. ==Cultivars== Compared with the other European species of elm, ''U. laevis'' has received scant horticultural attention, there being only five recorded cultivars, none of which are known to remain in cultivation, with the possible exception of 'Colorans' and 'Pendula': [[Ulmus laevis 'Aureovariegata'|Aureovariegata]], [[Ulmus 'Colorans'|Colorans]], [[Ulmus 'Ornata'|Ornata]], Pendula, [[Ulmus 'Punctata'|Punctata]], [[Ulmus laevis 'Urticifolia'|Urticifolia]]. ==Hybrid cultivars== ''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]], it was successfully crossed with [[Ulmus thomasii|''U. thomasii'']] and [[Ulmus pumila|''U. pumila'']]; no such crosses have ever been released to commerce. ==Accessions== ;North America *[[Arnold Arboretum]]. Acc. nos. 17910, 637-79, 6951, 753-80. *[[Brenton Arboretum]], [[Dallas Center]], [[Iowa]]. No details available. *[[Brooklyn Botanic Garden]],<ref>http://www.bbg.org/cgi/bgbase/search.cgi</ref> [[New York]]. Acc. no. X02589. *[[Dominion Arboretum]], [[Canada]]. No details available *[[Longwood Gardens]]. Acc. nos. 1964-0568, 1964-1119. *[[Morton Arboretum]], [[Illinois]]. Acc. nos. 1302-27, 446-48, 492-64, 27-98.<ref>[http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_russian_elm.htm ''Ulmus laevis'' at Morton Arboretum]</ref> ;Europe *[[Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie]],<ref>http://lapetiteloiterie.free.fr/html/presentation/especes.html</ref> [[Monthodon]], [[France]]. No details available *[[Arboretum Freiburg-Günterstal]],<ref>http://www.biologie.uni-ulm.de/extern/guenterstal/ukarbtxt.htm</ref> [[Germany]], no details available *[[Brighton & Hove]] City Council, [[UK]], [[NCCPG]] Elm Collection. *[[Copenhagen University]], Botanic Garden. No details available. *[[ELTE Botanic Garden Budapest]]. Acc. nos. 1998-0718, 1998-0719. *[[Grange Farm Arboretum]], [[Sutton St. James]], [[Spalding, Lincolnshire|Spalding]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[UK]]. Acc. no. 502. *Great Fontley Farm, [[Fareham]], [[UK]], ''[[Butterfly Conservation]]'' Elm Trials plantation, Home Field K2 and Platts N10, planted 2003, grown from cuttings of specimen at RBG Wakehurst Place. Acc. no. 1973-21048. *Hortus Botanicus Nationalis, [[Salaspils]], [[Latvia]]. Acc. nos. 18136, 18140. *[[Linnaean Garden|Linnaean Gardens of Uppsala]], [[Sweden]]. Acc. no. 1930-1014. *[[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh]], [[UK]]. Acc. no. 20070643, from seed wild collected in [[Val d'Allier]], [[France]]. *[[Royal Botanic Gardens Kew]], [[UK]]. Acc. nos. 1969-17302, 1973-11712. *[[Royal Botanic Gardens]], [[Wakehurst Place]], [[UK]]. Acc. no. 1973-21048. *[[Royal Horticultural Society]] Gardens, [[Wisley]], [[UK]]. No details available. *[[Sir Harold Hillier Gardens]], [[UK]]. Acc. no. 1981-2446. *[[Strona Arboretum]] [[Ulmus lamellosa]], University of Life Sciences, [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]. *[[Tallinn]] Botanic Garden, [[Estonia]]. No accession details available. *[[Thenford House]] arboretum, Oxfordshire, [[UK]]. No details available. * 'The Leys', University Parks, Oxford, UK. Acc. no. 02678. *[[Westonbirt Arboretum]],<ref>http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-62qk8w</ref> [[Tetbury]], [[Gloucestershire|Glos.]], [[UK]], planted 1997. Acc. no. 1995/322 ==Nurseries== ;North America None known ;Europe *Arboretum Waasland,<ref>http://www.arboretum-waasland.be/English.htm</ref> [[Nieuwkerken-Waas]], [[Belgium]]. *Boomkwekerij Oirschot,<ref>http://www.plantago.nl/plantindex/index.htm</ref> [[Oirschot]], [[Netherlands]] *Crown Nursery,<ref>http://www.crown-nursery.co.uk</ref> [[Ufford]], [[Suffolk]], [[UK]] *Dulford Nurseries,<ref>http://www.dulford-nurseries.co.uk</ref> [[Cullompton]], [[Devon]], [[UK]] *Landcare Tree Nursery,<ref>http://www.landcare.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk</ref> [[Old Sodbury]], [[South Gloucestershire]], [[UK]] *Lorenz von Ehren,<ref>http://lve.ulmer.de/TUlEPTUwOTY4.html?UID=BEA9FD32B9D84066636F075F113998FB30EF481B64C697</ref> [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] *UmbraFlor,<ref>http://www.umbraflor.it</ref> [[Spello]], [[Italy]] ==Seed suppliers== *Chiltern Seeds,<ref>http://www.chilternseeds.co.uk</ref> [[Ulverston]], [[Cumbria]], [[England]]. ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.bioversityinternational.org/fileadmin/bioversity/publications/pdfs/921.pdf?cache=1270483191 Ecology of the European White Elm] [[Category:Ulmaceae|laevis]] [[Category:Trees of Europe]] [[Category:Flora of Finland]] [[Category:Flora of Russia]] [[Category:Flora of France]] [[Category:Garden plants of Europe]] [[Category:Ornamental trees]] [[cs:Jilm vaz]] [[da:Skærm-Elm]] [[de:Flatterulme]] [[dsb:Dłujkowogonkaty wěz]] [[et:Künnapuu]] [[es:Ulmus laevis]] [[eo:Longtiga ulmo]] [[hsb:Dołhošiškaty wjaz]] [[it:Ulmus laevis]] [[lt:Paprastoji vinkšna]] [[hu:Vénic-szil]] [[nl:Fladderiep]] [[pms:Ulmus laevis]] [[pl:Wiąz szypułkowy]] [[ru:Вяз гладкий]] [[fi:Kynäjalava]] [[sv:Vresalm]] [[uk:В'яз гладенький]] [[zh:欧洲白榆]]'