Ulmus mexicana
Encyclopedia
The Mexican Elm Ulmus mexicana (Liebm.) Planch. is a large tree endemic to Mexico
and Central America
. It is most commonly found in cloud forest and the higher elevations (800 m to 2200 m) of tropical rain forest with precipitation levels of between 2 m and 4 m per annum, ranging from San Luis Potosi
south to Chiapas
in Mexico, and from Guatemala
to Panama
beyond. Natural regeneration is poor.
The tree was first described botanically in 1873.
.
Apart from its size, the tree is also distinguished by its deeply fluted grey trunk, supporting a deep crown, its dense foliage casting a heavy shadow. The leaves vary widely in size from 3 – 16 cm in length by 2 – 7 cm breadth, elliptic
to obovate
, surface glossy, but dull on the underside, with petioles 5 – 10 mm long. The tree is also distinguished by its long, racemose inflorescences (< 7 cm) comprising nine clusters of 40 perfect apetalous wind-pollinated flowers which emerge between December and February. The small samara
e, 9 mm × 2.3 mm, are covered with long straight hairs, and are shed in March http://www.jstor.org/stable/2807778?seq=1.
; a specimen planted at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden
in England
in 1978 died for reasons unknown. One tree is known to exist in Australia
(see Accessions). There are no known cultivar
s of this taxon, nor is it known to be in commerce.
the Mexican Elm is known as Tirrá; the neighbourhood (district) of Tirrases
in Curridabat
, San José
, takes its name from the tree.
Australasia
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
. It is most commonly found in cloud forest and the higher elevations (800 m to 2200 m) of tropical rain forest with precipitation levels of between 2 m and 4 m per annum, ranging from San Luis Potosi
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
south to Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
in Mexico, and from Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
beyond. Natural regeneration is poor.
The tree was first described botanically in 1873.
Description
Ulmus mexicana is probably the tallest of all the elm species, occasionally reaching a height of 84 m (273 feet), and a d.b.h. of 2.5 m (8 feet), certainly one of the tallest trees in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Apart from its size, the tree is also distinguished by its deeply fluted grey trunk, supporting a deep crown, its dense foliage casting a heavy shadow. The leaves vary widely in size from 3 – 16 cm in length by 2 – 7 cm breadth, elliptic
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
to obovate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, surface glossy, but dull on the underside, with petioles 5 – 10 mm long. The tree is also distinguished by its long, racemose inflorescences (< 7 cm) comprising nine clusters of 40 perfect apetalous wind-pollinated flowers which emerge between December and February. The small samara
Samara (fruit)
A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall. A samara is a simple dry fruit and indehiscent . It is a winged achene...
e, 9 mm × 2.3 mm, are covered with long straight hairs, and are shed in March http://www.jstor.org/stable/2807778?seq=1.
Cultivation
The tree is not known to be hardy in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
; a specimen planted at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
The Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located in Cambridge, England. It lies between Trumpington Road to the west and Hills Road to the east, close to Cambridge railway station. The garden covers an area of 16 hectares...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1978 died for reasons unknown. One tree is known to exist in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(see Accessions). There are no known cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s of this taxon, nor is it known to be in commerce.
Uses
The timber is hard and heavy (Gs 0.55), but difficult to dry, and can warp badly; its high silica content (0.35) damaging tools. The wood is used for tools, furniture, and floors, whilst the foliage is commonly used as fodder for cattle. The tree is occasionally planted for shade or ornamentation. However, although much of its natural range is threatened by deforestation, the tree is singularly unpopular in the timber trade on account of its deeply fluted trunk, and thus not considered a threatened species.Synonymy
In Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
the Mexican Elm is known as Tirrá; the neighbourhood (district) of Tirrases
Tirrases
Tirrases is a district of the Curridabat Canton in the San José Province in Costa Rica.- History :The Curridabat canton was founded on 21 August 1929, as the 18th province of San José...
in Curridabat
Curridabat
Curridabat is a city of the San José Province in Costa Rica.It is situated on the eastern border of the city, San José, above the Desamparados Canton, and below the Montes de Oca Canton.Curridabat has a population of around 34,000 people...
, San José
San José Province
San José is a province of Costa Rica. It is located in the central part of the country, and borders the provinces of Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Limón and Puntarenas. The provincial capital is San José. The province covers an area of 4,965.9 km²...
, takes its name from the tree.
Accessions
North America- Jardin Botanico Francisco Javier Clavijero http://www.ecologia.edu.mx/jardin/jardin.htm#jardin, XalapaXalapaXalapa-Enríquez, commonly Xalapa or Jalapa, is the capital city of the Mexican state of Veracruz and the name of the surrounding municipality. In the year 2005 census the city reported a population of 387,879 and the municipality of which it serves as municipal seat reported a population of...
, VeracruzVeracruzVeracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Details not known.
Australasia
- Royal Botanic Gardens, SydneyRoyal Botanic Gardens, SydneyThe Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, Australia, are the most central of the three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney....
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Acc. no. 851550