Ulmus minor
Specifications
Family
Ulmaceae
Species
Ulmus minor Mill.
field elm
small-leaved elm
common elm
Description
The sapwood is white and the heartwood is brown. The density varies from 0.46 to 0.70.
Plant morphology
It is a small to medium-sized tree, growing between 2 and 10 meters tall. The bark tends to peel. The leaves are alternate, asymmetrical, elliptical, about 3 cm wide and 5 cm long, with a serrated edge and a short stalk, and yellow in autumn. The flowers are small, unisexual, with greenish tepals. The fruit is an edible samara when immature, appearing before the leaves emerge between February and March.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Holarctic: Europe, Asia, North America
Habitat and ecology
The species prefers woods and uncultivated land, even along the beds of streams and creeks, between 0 and 1,200 m, and shows good tolerance to cold and drought.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used in underwater constructions, floors, furniture, turned objects, veneers and decorative veneers.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
The species has declined due to Dutch elm disease, a disease that causes obstruction of the vessels, inhibiting the transport of water and sap. The disease is caused by two exotic pathogenic fungi, Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, which are fatal but do not attack younger specimens.
Conservation measures
The species is preserved in 65 ex situ collections (BGCI 2017).
IUCN Red List
IUCN
DD - Data deficient - Insufficient data
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2017
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2017
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
620
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
51
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
83
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
100
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
10500
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not very durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant