Ulmus wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma

The elm Ulmus wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma was identified by Melville and Heybroek after the latter's expedition to the Himalaya in 1960.^[1] The tree is of more western distribution than subsp. wallichiana, ranging from Afghanistan to Kashmir.^[2]

Ulmus wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Ulmaceae
Genus:	Ulmus
Species:	U. wallichiana
Subspecies:	U. w. subsp. xanthoderma
Trinomial name
Ulmus wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma Melville & Heybroek
Synonyms
Ulmus brandisiana C. K. Schneid.

Description

A deciduous tree growing to 30 m with a crown comprising several ascending branches. The bark of the trunk is pale grey, coarsely furrowed longitudinally. The branchlets become orange- or yellow-brown, glandular at first, not hairy. The leaves range from 5.6–14 cm long by 3–7.5 cm broad, elliptic-acuminate in shape,^[3] and with a glabrous upper surface, on petioles 7–10 mm long. The inflorescence is slightly glandular, almost glabrous. The samarae are orbicular to obovate, with a few glandular hairs; the seed central.^[1][2]

• 
  U. wallichiana ssp. xanthoderma leaf
• 
  U. wallichiana ssp. xanthoderma samara

Pests and diseases

The tree has a high resistance to the fungus Ophiostoma himal-ulmi endemic to the Himalaya and the cause of Dutch elm disease there.^[1]

Cultivation

There are a few trees planted in England and The Netherlands. It is not known in North America or Australasia.

Accessions

Europe

• Grange Farm Arboretum, Lincolnshire, UK. Acc. no. 643 (Heybroek's clone P296).

• Wijdemeren City Council Elm Arboretum, 1 tree planted Brilhoek, Nederhorst den Berg 2019, tree number: 112793