Siberian elm

Ulmus pumila

Description 11

Siberian elm is a fast-growing tree in the elm family (Ulmaceae) distinguished by small toothed leaves about 1-2½ in (3-7 cm) long and half as wide, and pointed at the tip. Unlike other elms, the leaf base is usually symmetrical, forming a nearly even "V". Leaves are smooth and dark green above, paler and nearly hairless beneath, and alternate from side to side along twigs. Mature trees reach a height of 50-70 ft. (16-22 m.), with a round crown of slender, spreading branches. The bark is rough, gray or brown, and shallowly furrowed at maturity. Twigs are nearly hairless with small, blunt buds. Flowering occurs in the springtime. The small greenish flowers lack petals and occur in drooping clusters of 2 to 5. After flowering, a single seed forms in the center of each smooth, flattened, circular, ½ in (10-15 mm) wide fruit.

Other species of elms (Ulmus) and the close relative Zelkova, especially younger plants, look similar to Siberian elm. Some may even confuse it with choke-cherry (Prunus serotina) and hackberry (Celtis sp.). The native slippery elm and American elm typically have leaves that are greater than 3 in (7.3 cm) long, with unequal heart-shaped leaf bases, and leaf margins with double teeth.

Ecological threat in the united states 12

Dry to mesic prairies and stream banks are vulnerable to Siberian elm invasion. Thickets of seedlings soon form around seed-producing trees, bare ground areas, animal and insect mounds, and other disturbed areas. Wind carries seed to distant areas where new colonies can form. This tough exotic survives under conditions not easily tolerated by other species, allowing it to take advantage of open ground and resources otherwise used by native plants. Fast growing seedlings of Siberian elm quickly overtake native vegetation, especially shade-intolerant species. This often leads to invasion by additional weedy species, compounding the problem.

Ulmus pumila 13

Ulmus pumila, the Siberian elm, is native to Central Asia, eastern Siberia, Mongolia, Xizang (Tibet), northern China, India (northern Kashmir) and Korea.[1] It is also known as the Asiatic Elm, Dwarf Elm and (erroneously) Chinese Elm. It is the last tree species encountered in the semi-desert regions of central Asia.[2] Introduced to the USA in 1905 by Prof. J. G. Jack,[3]Ulmus pumila has been widely cultivated throughout the Americas, Asia and, to a lesser extent, southern Europe.

Description[edit]

The Siberian Elm is usually a small to medium-sized, often bushy, tree growing to 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 80 centimetres (31 in) d.b.h. [4] The leaves are deciduous in cold areas, but semi-evergreen in warmer climates, < 7 cm long and < 3 cm broad, with an oblique base and a coarsely serrated margin, changing from dark green to yellow in autumn. The perfect, apetalous wind-pollinated flowers emerge in early spring, before the leaves; unlike most elms, U. pumila is able to self-pollinate successfully.[4] The wind-dispersed fruit develops in a flat, oval membranous wing (samara) 1–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in) long and notched at the outer end.[5][6][7] The tree is short-lived in temperate climates, rarely reaching more than 60 years of age, but in its native environment may live to between 100 and 150 years [5][6].

Pests and diseases[edit]

The tree has considerable variability in resistance to Dutch elm disease.[8][9] Moreover, like many other elms in North America, it is highly susceptible to damage from many insects and parasites, including the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola,[10]powdery mildew, cankers,[3]aphids, and leaf spot. In the NetherlandsU. pumila was also found to be susceptible to coral spot fungus Nectria cinnabarina,[11] moreover its flowers, emerging in early February, were often damaged by frost, consequently the species was dropped from the Dutch elm breeding programme.[12] In Italy, the species was also found to have a slight to moderate susceptibility to Elm Yellows.[13] However, U. pumila is the most resistant of all the elms to verticillium wilt.[14]

Cultivation and uses[edit]

U. pumila was introduced into Spain in the 16th century, and from the 1930s into Italy.[15] In these countries it has naturally hybridized with the Field ElmU. minor (see below, Invasive species and spontaneous hybridization). In Italy it was widely used in viniculture, notably in the Po valley, to support the grape vines until the 1950s, when the demands of mechanization made it unsuitable. Introduced to the USA by Prof. J. G. Jack in 1905, and later by Meyer, the tree was initially cultivated at the USDA Experimental Station at Mandan, North Dakota, where it flourished.[16] It was consequently selected by the USDA for planting in shelter belts across the prairies in the aftermath of the Dustbowl disasters, where its rapid growth and tolerance for drought and cold initially made it a great success. However, the species later proved susceptible to numerous maladies. Attempts to find a more suitable cultivar were initiated in 1997 by the Plant Materials Center of the USDA, which established experimental plantations at Akron, Colorado and Sidney, Nebraska. The study, no. 201041K, will conclude in 2020.

The species has a high sunlight requirement and is not shade-tolerant; with adequate light it exhibits rapid growth. The tree is also fairly intolerant of wet ground conditions, growing better on well-drained soils. While it is very resistant to drought and severe cold, and able to grow on poor soils, its short period of dormancy, flowering early in spring followed by continuous growth until the first frosts of autumn,[17] renders it vulnerable to frost damage.

As an ornamentalU. pumila is a very poor tree, tending to be short-lived, with brittle wood and poor crown shape, but it has nevertheless enjoyed some popularity owing to its rapid growth and provision of shade. The Siberian Elm has been described as "one of [the world's worst], if not the world's worst trees...a poor ornamental that does not deserve to be planted anywhere".[18] Yet in the US during the 1950s, the tree was also widely promoted as a fast-growing hedging substitute for Privet, and as a consequence is now commonly found in nearly all states.[16] It is the superior cultivar, the Turkestan Elm, that is seen more often in gardens, and referred to as the 'wonder hedge' (Ulmus pumila celer), being both dense and fast-growing, taking as little as two years to reach fence height. [7] In the UK, the popularity of U. pumila has been almost exclusively as a bonsai subject, and mature trees are largely restricted to arboreta.

Invasiveness and spontaneous hybridization[edit]

In North America, Ulmus pumila has become an invasive species in much of the region from central Mexico[19] northward across the eastern and central United States to Ontario, Canada.[20] It also hybridizes in the wild with the native U. rubra (Slippery Elm) in the central United States.[21] In South America, the tree has spread across much of the Argentinian pampas[22][23]

In Europe it has spread widely in Spain, and hybridizes extensively there with the native U. minor, contributing to conservation concerns for the latter species.[24][25] Research is ongoing into the extent of hybridisation with U. minor in Italy.[26]Ulmus pumila is often found in abundance along railroads and in abandoned lots and on disturbed ground. The gravel along railroad beds provides ideal conditions for its growth: well-drained, nutrient poor soil, and high light conditions; these beds provide corridors which facilitate its spread. Owing to its high sunlight requirements, it seldom invades mature forests, and is primarily a problem in cities and open areas,[27][28] as well as along transportation corridors.

The species is now listed in Japan as an alien species recognized as established in Japan or found in the Japanese wild.[29]

Varieties[edit]

Two varieties were traditionally recognized: var pumila and var. arborea, however the latter has now been sunk as the cultivar 'Turkestan'.

Cultivars[edit]

Valued for the high resistance of some clones to Dutch elm disease, over a dozen selections have been made to produce hardy ornamental cultivars, although several may no longer be in cultivation:

Hybrid cultivars[edit]

The species has been widely hybridized in the USA and Italy to create robust trees of more native appearance with high levels of resistance to Dutch elm disease:

Notable trees[edit]

Roerich describes a specimen discovered on his travels through Mongolia:-
We are in the deserts of Mongolia. It was hot and dusty yesterday. From faraway thunder was approaching. Some of our friends became tired from climbing the stony holy hills of Shiret Obo. While already returning to the camp, we noticed in the distance a huge elm tree – ‘karagatch’, - lonely, towering amidst the surrounding endless desert. The size of the tree, its somewhat familiar outlines attracted us into its shadow. Botanical considerations led us to believe that in the wide shade of the giant there might be some interesting herbs. Soon, all the co-workers gathered around the two mighty stems of the karagatch. The deep, deep shadow of the tree covered about 50 feet across. The powerful tree-stems were covered with fantastic burr growths. In the rich foliage, birds were singing and the beautiful branches were stretched out in all directions, as if wishing to give shelter to all pilgrims.[30]

The USA National Champion, measuring 33.5 m high in 2011, grows in Berrien County, Michigan.[31][9]

Accessions[edit]

North America
Europe
Australasia

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ulmus pumila.
  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. [1]
  2. ^onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01384.x/pdf
  3. ^ abLeopold, D. J. (1980). Chinese and Siberian elms. Journal of Arboriculture. 6 (7): July 1980, 175–179
  4. ^Townsend, A. M. (1975). "Crossability patterns and morphological variation among elm species and hybrids" 24 (1). Sylvae Genetica. pp. 18–23. 
  5. ^Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. 1848–1929. Republished 2004 Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9781108069380
  6. ^Rushforth, K (1999). Trees. Collins. 
  7. ^Huxley, A. (1992). The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan. 
  8. ^Smalley, E. & Guries, R. P. (1993). "Breeding elms for resistance to Dutch elm disease" 31. Annual Review of Phytopathology. pp. 25–352. 
  9. ^Zalapa, J. E., Brunet, J., & Guries, R. P (2008). "Genetic diversity and relationships among Dutch elm disease tolerant Ulmus pumila L. accessions from China". NRC Research Press Web (USA: Genome) 51: 492–500. 
  10. ^Miller, F. and Ware, G. (2001). "Resistance of Temperate Chinese Elms (Ulmuss spp.) to Feeding of the Adult Elm Leaf Beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)". Journal of Economic Entomology (Entom. Soc.of America) 94 (1): 162–166. 
  11. ^Heybroek, H. M. (1957). "Elm breeding in the Netherlands" 6 (3-4). Silvae Genetica. pp. 112–117. 
  12. ^Went, J. (1954). The Dutch Elm Disease - Summary of fifteen years' hybridization and selection work (1937–1952). European Journal of Plant Pathology. 02(1954); 60(2): 109–1276.
  13. ^Mittempergher, L. & Santini, A. (2004). The History of Elm Breeding. Invest. Agrar.: Sist Recur For. 2004 13 (1), 161-177.
  14. ^Pegg, G. F. & Brady, B. L. (2002). Verticillium Wilts. CABI Publishing. ISBN 0-85199-529-2. 
  15. ^link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10530-013-0486-z#page-1
  16. ^ abKlingaman, G. (1999). Plant of the Week: Siberian Elm. Extension News, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture.
  17. ^Geng, M. A. (1989). A provenance test with elm (Ulmus pumila L.) in China32 (2). Silvae Genetica. pp. 37–44. 
  18. ^Dirr, M. (1975). "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants". Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing LLC. 
  19. ^Todzia, C. A. & Panero, J. L. (1998). "A new species of Ulmus (Ulmaceae) from southern Mexico and a synopsis of the species in Mexico"50 (3). Brittonia. p. 346. 
  20. ^McIlvain, E. H. & Armstrong, C. G. (1965). Siberian Elm: A Tough New Invader of Grasslands. Weeds, Vol. 13, No. 3 (July 1965), pp 278 - 279. Weed Science Society of America & Allen Press.
  21. ^J. E. Zalapa, J. Brunet, R. P. Guries (June 28, 2008). "Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers for red elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl.) and cross-species amplification with Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.)"8 (1). Wiley Online Library. pp. 109–12. doi:10.1111/j.1471-8286.2007.01805.x. PMID 21585729. 
  22. ^Villamil, C. B., Zalba, S. M. Red de información sobre especies exóticas invasoras - I3N-Argentina Universidad Nacional del Sur Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
  23. ^Hiersch, H., Hensen, I., Zalapa, J. Guries, R. & Brunet, J. (2013). Is hybridization a necessary condition for the evolution of invasiveness in non-native Siberian elm? Abstracts. Third International Elm Conference 2013. The elm after 100 years of Dutch elm disease. Florence, p45.
  24. ^http://www.nature.com
  25. ^readcube.com
  26. ^link.springer.com
  27. ^National Audubon Society (2002). Field Guide to North American Trees, Western Region, p. 419-420
  28. ^[2]
  29. ^[3]
  30. ^de Roerich, G. (1931). Trails to Inmost Asia. Yale University Press.
  31. ^American Forests. (2012). The 2012 National Register of Big Trees.
  32. ^Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. Whittet Press, ISBN 978-1-873580-61-5.

Sources and Credits

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  4. (c) "<a href=""http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/trees/handbook.htm"">ND State Soil Conservation Committee</a>. <a href=""http://www.nd.nrcs.usda.gov/"">USDA NRCS ND State Office</a>. United States, ND.", some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=ulpu_002_ahp.tif
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  8. (c) Michael Ellis, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael Ellis
  9. (c) Gerrit Davidse, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://images.mobot.org/tropicosdetailimages/TropicosImages2/100190000/3BC798EC-93AB-4087-B50F-8A885FACF21C.jpg
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  13. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/32430831

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