Ulmus chenmoui

Species of tree

Ulmus chenmoui

Chenmou elm at Morton Arboretum
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 2.3)^[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Ulmaceae
Genus:	Ulmus
Species:	U. chenmoui
Binomial name
*Ulmus chenmoui* W.C.Cheng

Ulmus chenmoui W. C. Cheng, commonly known as the Chenmou, or Langya Mountain elm, is a small deciduous tree from the more temperate provinces of Anhui and Jiangsu in eastern China, where it is found at elevations below 200 m on the Langya Shan and Baohua Shan mountains.^[2]^[3] The tree was unknown in the West until 1979, when seeds were sent from Beijing to the De Dorschkamp research institute at Wageningen in the Netherlands.^[4]

Description

Although the tree can grow to a height of < 20 m, the slender trunk rarely exceeds 0.5 m d.b.h.; the bark exfoliates in irregular flakes. The wing-less twigs bear comparatively large obovate to oblong leaves < 18 cm in length^[5] with doubly serrate margins and caudate to acuminate apices. Leaves of specimens grown in the US developed a thick pubescence, giving them a greyish appearance, but this has not been reciprocated in English - grown trees. The perfect wind-pollinated apetalous flowers are produced on second-year shoots in March; the samarae are obovate < 25 mm long by 17 mm wide and ripen in April.

U. chenmoui foliage
Leaves and fruit of U. chenmoui
U. chenmoui samarae

Pests and diseases

U. chenmoui has a very high resistance to Dutch elm disease, on a par with Ulmus pumila,^[4] and is eschewed by the elm leaf beetle Xanthogaleruca luteola, but has a moderate susceptibility to elm yellows.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Cultivation

The tree remains rare in cultivation in the West, but was under evaluation by Dr George Ware at the Morton Arboretum, Illinois, in 2009,^[9] and by Mittempergher in Italy.^[10] It also featured in elm trials conducted by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) on gravelly soils in the Bois de Vincennes, Paris, but most specimens were killed by drought. Trees grown from seed obtained from the hills near Chu-hsien gave a more encouraging performance in the Netherlands where rather surprisingly, for a species accustomed to milder climes, they survived the cold winter of 1980/81 completely unscathed when temperatures fell to -19 °C^[4]

Notable trees

The UK TROBI Champion grows at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens near Romsey, Hampshire; one of a pair planted in 1994, it measured 8 m high by 22 cm d.b.h. in 2010.^[11]

Cultivars and hybrid cultivars

There are no known cultivars of this taxon. U. chenmoui was hybridized with the Dutch clone '405' (U. × hollandica × U. minor) by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP), Florence, to create 'Morfeo', a robust, fast-growing tree patented and released to commerce in 2011. IPP also hybridized U. chenmoui with the early Dutch hybrid cultivar 'Groeneveld', identifying the new cultivar as 'FL522', however this was never released to commerce.

Etymology

The species was named for Mr Chen Mou, assistant in Dendrology at the National Central University circa 1933, by W C Cheng.^[12]

Accessions

North America

Chicago Botanic Garden, US. Planted in West Collections Area. No acc. details.
Denver Botanic Gardens, US. No acc. details.
Morton Arboretum, US. Acc. nos. 47-95, 105-98, 128-98, 72-2011, 195-2011. [3]
United States National Arboretum, Washington, D.C., US. Acc. nos. 68979, 76220, 76221, 76222, 68032.

Europe

Grange Farm Arboretum, Lincolnshire, UK. Acc. No. 508
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey, Hampshire, UK. Acc. No. 1994:0328, 2 specimens planted 1994, and Acc. No. 2010:0285, a third planted 2010^[13]
Verrières le Buisson Arboretum (private), Paris, France. Details not known
Wijdemeren City Council, Netherlands. Brilhoek Nederhorst den Berg Elm Arboretum, 2 planted 2019

Nurseries

Europe

Pan-Global Plants [4], Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire, UK.
Pépinière AOBA [5], Saint Ouen la Rouerie, France.
Ravensberg Nurseries, Clara, Co. Offaly, Eire.

References

^ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Ulmus chenmoui". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32458A9708541. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32458A9708541.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
^ 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, US. [1]
^ ^a ^b ^c Heybroek, Hans M. (1981). "The Japanese elm species and their value for the Dutch elm breeding program" (PDF). Proceedings of the Dutch Elm Disease Symposium and Workshop, October 5–9, Winnipeg, Manitoba: 78–90.
^ "Photograph labelled U. chienmoui, asianflora Ulmaceae".
^ Mittempergher, L.; La Porter, N. (1991). "Hybridization studies in the Eurasian species of elm (Ulmus spp.)". Silvae Genetica. 40: 237–243.
^ "Elm Leaf Beetle Survey". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
^ Sfalanga, A, Martini, M., Surico, G., & Bertaccini, A. (2002). Involvement of phytoplasmas in a decline of Ulmus chenmoui in Central Italy. Forest Pathology, Vol. 32, Issue 4-5, 265-275, August 2002.
^ Dirr, M. (2009). 'Future Tree Selections'. Western, Spring 2009, p.8. Western Nursery & Landscape Association, St Joseph, Missouri.[2]
^ Mittempergher, L; Santini, A (2004). "The history of elm breeding" (PDF). Investigacion Agraria: Sistemas y Recursos Forestales. 13 (1): 161–177.
^ Johnson, O. (2011). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland, p.168. Kew Publishing, Kew, London. ISBN 9781842464526.
^ Cheng, Wan-chun (1958). "Five New Species of Ulmus in China". Nanjing Forestry University (Natural Science). 1 (1): 68–77.
^ Sir Harold Hillier Arboretum database

External links

efloras.org U. chenmoui description
efloras.org U. chenmoui leaves and fruit illustration (figures 1 to 3)
Photographs labelled U. chenmoui on Plant Photo Bank of China, ppbc.iplant
U. chenmoui, Kew Gardens 'Plants of the World Online'

U. alata (Winged elm)
U. americana (American elm)
U. americana var. floridana (Florida elm)
U. bergmanniana (Bergmann's elm)
U. bergmanniana var. bergmanniana
U. bergmanniana var. lasiophylla
U. castaneifolia (Chestnut-leafed or multinerved elm)
U. changii (Hangzhou elm)
U. changii var. changii
U. changii var. kunmingensis (Kunming elm)
U. chenmoui (Chenmou or Langya Mountain elm)
U. chumlia
U. crassifolia (Cedar or Texas cedar elm)
U. davidiana (David or Father David elm)
U. davidiana var. davidiana
U. davidiana var. japonica (Japanese elm)
U. elongata (Long raceme elm)
U. gaussenii (Anhui or hairy elm)
U. glabra (Wych or scots elm)
U. glaucescens (Gansu elm)
U. glaucescens var. glaucescens
U. glaucescens var. lasiocarpa (hairy-fruited glaucescent elm)
U. harbinensis (Harbin elm)
U. ismaelis
U. laciniata (Manchurian cut-leaf or lobed elm)
U. laciniata var. nikkoensis (Nikko elm)
U. laevis (European white elm)
U. laevis var. celtidea
U. laevis var. parvifolia
U. laevis var. simplicidens
U. lamellosa (Hebei elm)
U. lanceifolia (Vietnam elm)
U. macrocarpa (Large-fruited elm)
U. macrocarpa var. glabra
U. macrocarpa var. macrocarpa
U. mexicana (Mexican elm)
U. microcarpa (Tibetan elm)
U. minor (Field elm)
U. minor subsp. minor
U. minor var. italica
U. parvifolia (Chinese or lacebark elm)
U. parvifolia var. coreana (Korean elm)
U. prunifolia (Cherry-leafed elm)
U. pseudopropinqua (Harbin spring elm)
U. pumila (Siberian elm)
U. rubra (Slippery elm)
U. serotina (September elm)
U. szechuanica (Szechuan (Sichuan) or red-fruited elm)
U. thomasii (Rock or cork elm)
U. uyematsui (Alishan elm)
U. villosa (Cherry-bark or marn elm)
U. wallichiana (Himalayan or kashmir elm)
U. wallichiana subsp. wallichiana
U. wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma
U. wallichiana var. tomentosa

Disputed species, varieties and subspecies

U. boissieri
U. minor subsp. canescens (Grey, grey-leafed or hoary elm)
U. elliptica

Hybrids

U. davidiana var. japonica × U. minor
U. × arbuscula
U. × arkansana
U. × brandisiana
U. × diversifolia
U. × hollandica (Dutch elm)
U. × hollandica var. insularum
U. × intermedia
U. × mesocarpa

Species cultivars

American elm	American Liberty Ascendens Augustine Aurea Beaverlodge Beebe's Weeping Brandon Burgoyne JFS Prince II College Columnaris Creole Queen Deadfree Delaware Exhibition Fiorei Flick's Spreader Folia Aurea Variegata Great Plains Hines Incisa Independence Iowa State Jackson Jefferson Kimley Klehmii L'Assomption Lake City Lewis & Clark Littleford Maine Markham Miller Park Minneapolis Park Moline Morden New Harmony Nigricans Patmore Pendula Penn Treaty Princeton Pyramidata Queen City Sheyenne Skinner Upright St. Croix Star Valley Forge Variegata Vase Washington
Cedar elm	Brazos Rim
Chinese elm	A-1 A. Ross Central Park Blizzard BSNUPF Burgundy Burnley Select Catlin Chessins Churchyard Cork Bark D. B. Cole Drake Dynasty Ed Wood Elsmo Emer I Emer II Emerald Prairie Frosty Garden City Clone Geisha Glory Golden Rey Hallelujah Hokkaido Jade Empress King's Choice Littleleaf Lois Hole Matthew Milliken Nire-keyaki Ohio Orange Ribbon Pathfinder Pendens Prairie Shade Prince Richard Red Fall Sabamiki Sagei Seiju Select 380 Sempervirens Small Frye State Fair Stone's Dwarf Taiwan The Thinker Todd True Green UPMTF Ware's Yarralumla Yatsubusa Zettler Ulmus parvifolia f. lanceolata
European white elm	Aureovariegata Colorans Helena Ornata Pendula Punctata Urticifolia
Field elm	Ademuz Albo-Dentata Amplifolia Argenteo-Variegata Atinia Atinia Pyramidalis Atinia Variegata Bea Schwarz Biltii Christine Buisman Concavaefolia Coritana Cretensis Cucullata Cucullata Variegata Dehesa de Amaniel Dehesa de la Villa Dicksonii Dijkwel Erecta Folia Alba-Punctata Glandulosa Goodyeri Hoersholmiensis Holmstruph Hunnybunii Hunnybunii pseudo-Stricta Laciniata Lanuginosa Majadahonda Microphylla Pendula Microphylla Purpurea Microphylla Rubra Monumentalis Pendula Picturata Plotii Propendens Punctata Purpurascens Purpurea Retiro Reverti Rugosa Rueppellii Sarniensis Schuurhoek Silvery Gem Sowerbyi Stricta Suberosa Umbraculifera Gracilis Umbraculifera Viminalis Viminalis Aurea Viminalis Betulaefolia Viminalis Gracilis Viminalis Incisa Viminalis Marginata Viminalis Pendula Viminalis Pulverulenta Viminalis Stricta Virgata Webbiana
Japanese elm	Discovery Freedom Jacan JFS-Bieberich Mitsui Centennial Prospector Reperta Reseda Thomson Validation
Siberian elm	Ansaloni Aurea Aurescens Chinkota Dropmore Dwarf Weeper Green King Hansen Harbin Manchu Mauro Mr. Buzz Park Royal Pendula Pinnato-ramosa Poort Bulten Puszta Pyramidalis Fiorei Zhonghua Jinye
Winged elm	Lace Parasol
Wych elm	Albo-Variegata Australis Camperdownii Cebennensis Concavaefolia Cornuta Corylifolia Purpurea Corylifolia Dovaei Fastigiata Macrophylla Fastigiata Stricta Fastigiata Variegata Firma Flava Gigantea Gittisham Grandidentata Holgeri Horizontalis Insularis Latifolia Latifolia Aurea Latifolia Aureo-Variegata Latifolia Nigricans Luteo Variegata Lutescens Macrophylla Maculata Minor Nana Nigra Nitida Oblongata Pendula Macrophylla Pendula Variegata Pyrenaica Spectabilis Superba Tomentosa

Hybrid cultivars

Androssowii Amsterdam Arno Cathedral Clusius Columella Den Haag Dodoens Escaillard Fiorente Frontier Fuente Umbria Homestead Karagatch Lobel Morfeo Morton Morton Glossy Morton Plainsman Morton Red Tip Morton Stalwart Nanguen New Horizon Patriot Plantyn Plinio Rebella Rebona Recerta Regal Repura Revera San Zanobi Sapporo Autumn Gold Sapporo Gold 2 Stavast Toledo Urban Wanoux Wingham
Dutch elm	Alba Angustifolia Balder Belgica Blandford Canadian Giant Cicestria Cinerea Commelin Dampieri Dauvessei Daveyi Dumont Elegantissima Eleganto-Variegata Etrusca Fastigiata Fjerrestad Folia Rhomboidea Freja Fulva Gaujardii Groeneveld Haarlemensis Klemmer Loke Macrophylla Aurea Major Microphylla Modiolina Muscaviensis Odin Pioneer Pitteurs Serpentina Smithii Superba Tricolor Tyr Vegeta Viminalis Viscosa Wentworthii Pendula Wredei Ypreau
U. × intermedia	Coolshade Fremont Improved Coolshade Lincoln Rosehill Willis

Unconfirmed derivation cultivars

Fossil elms

U. okanaganensis

Taxon identifiers
Ulmus chenmoui	Wikidata: Q2109862 Wikispecies: Ulmus chenmoui CoL: 7DFL4 EoL: 2864794 EPPO: ULMCH FoC: 242353341 GBIF: 5792597 GRIN: 476142 iNaturalist: 444535 IPNI: 77099084-1 IUCN: 32458 NCBI: 1737302 Open Tree of Life: 3907809 Plant List: tro-50127415 POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77099084-1 Tropicos: 50127415 WFO: wfo-0001244088