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Ulmus pumila
Siberian elm
Siberian elm, Asiatic elm, dwarf elm (Eng), olmo de Siberia, olmo siberiano (Spa), Siberiako zumarra (Baq).
Non-native
DID YOU KNOW...? Its ability to germinate and regrow from the stump means that this species is considered invasive and it may occur in dumps, hedgerows, cracks in walls or even growing out of sewers.
DESCRIPTION
A branching shrub or small tree that can be up to 12 m tall and in exceptional cases can reach 25 m. Its branches are erect and its bark is rough. The leaves are small, 2-5 cm long, flat and with a short stalk of up to 1 cm long. They are deciduous, alternate, serrated, oval, and have a slightly asymmetrical base, a characteristic which often cannot be easily distinguished. The flowers are borne in groups, before the leaves develop, and are arranged directly on the twigs. The fruits are dry and consist of a seed wrapped in membrane like a wing (samara), to aid their dispersal by the wind.
ECOLOGY
This fast-growing, but not very long-lived species germinates well from seed. It colonises all kinds of media because it quickly develops a powerful root system that makes it able to resist pruning, felling, and trampling, and it can resprout strongly from the stump. It lives on all soil types and can withstand high temperatures and severe winters. However, it does not provide the deep and abundant shade typical of other elm species, due to the arrangement of the leaves.
DISTRIBUTION
This elm is originally from Siberia, China, Korea, Turkestan, India and Iran, but is widely distributed across the globe. It is the most profusely planted elm as it is the most resistant to Dutch elm disease, and in many places it has become an invasive species. It is found throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
