The elm is also widespread in this country. It is easy to distinguish from other trees due to certain characteristics such as flowers, leaves and growth habit. But elm is not the same as elm. Could you identify the different varieties? If you know which types of elms exist and what their characteristics are, that's no problem at all.
The white elm is one of the largest species of elm
Division into genera and sections
The elm is a deciduous deciduous tree native mostly to the northern hemisphere. A wide range of species grows in Central Europe as well as in Eurasia or Central America. The genus includes about 40 to 50 different species belonging to either the subgenus Ulmus or the subgenus Oreoptelea. In turn, botanists divide this subgenus into several sections:
- blepharocarpus
- Chaetoptelea
- Trichoptelea
- Lanceifoliae
- Microptelea
- Ulmus
Three main types of elm grow in Central Europe:
- the mountain elm
- the flutter elm
- and the field elm
The native elm species
The mountain elm
The mountain elm grows up to 40 meters high, has grey-black bark and bears yellow flowers in spring (March-April).
The Flutter Elm
A little earlier than the mountain elm, the flatter elm unfolds its blooms in green-purple. Their bark is grey-green.
The field elm
The field elm, on the other hand, has whitish flowers that unfold from March to April. It can reach a height of 40 meters, but often stays below that depending on site conditions.
Differences between the elm species
In the text above you have already learned that the three different elm species of Central Europe develop differently colored flowers. Another indication of the variety is the length of the petiole. While the leaves of the field elm have no stem, those of the mountain elm are short-stalked, those of the flat elm are long-stalked.
Distribution in Germany
In Germany, the elm species show a differentiated frequency with regard to their occurrence. The mountain elm grows primarily in the low mountain ranges. The flatter elm is most likely to be found in the north-east of Germany. The Upper Rhine Graben is primarily inhabited by the field elm.
The elm disease
Dutch elm smut, a dangerous sac fungus, has been of great concern to conservationists in recent years. So far, no countermeasures have been taken. Thus, the three elm species that are native here are among the endangered tree species. The mountain elm is particularly affected by the disease. Hope comes from the Netherlands, where resistant breeds have now been developed.