Ulmus szechuanica
| Ulmus szechuanica | |
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| Ulmus szechuanica leaves, summer | |
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| Species: | U. szechuanica
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| Binomial name | |
| Ulmus szechuanica Fang
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Ulmus szechuanica Fang, or Szechuan Elm is a small to medium deciduous Chinese tree found along the Yangtze river through the provinces of Sichuan, Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu. It can reach a height of 18 m, but is usually less than 10 m, with a spreading umbrella-like crown. The leaves, distinguished by their emergent red colour, are generally obovate < 9 cm long by 5 cm broad, borne on branchlets with an irregular corky layer. The wind-pollinated petal-less flowers are produced on second-year shoots in February, followed by suborbicular samarae < 16 mm by 13 mm in March.
The tree was evaluated with other Chinese elms at the Morton Arboretum, Illinois, where it was found to grow best on well-drained soils, and exhibited a resistance to Dutch elm disease. However, it was also found to be comparatively weak-wooded, making it susceptible to storm damage in winter.
U. szechuanica is now considered rare and endangered in its native China.
Arboreta specimens
North America
Europe
- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Brighton & Hove City Council, NCCPG elm collection [1],
Nurseries
North America
Europe
None known
Synonymy
- Sichuan Elm: Morton Arboretum Catalogue 2006
- Ulmus erythrocarpa Cheng
References
- 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. [4]
- Ware, G. (1995). Little-known elms from China: landscape tree possibilities. Journal of Arboriculture, (Nov. 1995). International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, Illinois, USA. [5]