226 FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 
Common Elm (Ulmus campestris, L. = U. sativa, Mill. 
= U. surculosa, Stokes) 
No trace of the Common Elm has been found in ancient plant 
beds, though this cannot be said of the Wych Elm. The latter is 
thought to be native, the former not. The Common Elm does not 
usually set perfect seed, and is considered to be usually propagated by 
suckers. The roots reach a long way underground, 40 or 50 yds., and 
from these suckers are produced. The Wych Elm, however, is ob- 
tained from seedlings. The Common Elm is found as a native on 
the Continent, however, and is generally distributed throughout the 
Northern Temperate Zone in Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, 
and West Asia, Siberia, and in N. Africa. In the British Isles the 
Common Elm is generally distributed, but it is not so widespread in 
Scotland, where it is usually planted, as indeed it is in England. It 
is found also in Ireland and the Channel Islands as a denizen. In 
Derbyshire it is found at an altitude of 1500 ft. 
The habitat is hedges, hedgerows, woods, and fields. The Elm 
is often used as a boundary mark, and for avenues and parks in the 
country or town. To the writer are known lines of Elms called ‘* The 
Twelve Apostles”, and in many districts there are ancient Elms planted 
like Coronation Oaks and other trees to commemorate some national 
or local event of importance. The Common Elm, though frequently 
found in more upland habitats, occurs in the marsh formation in the 
Alder-Willow association. More frequent south of the Trent, it is 
more characteristic of the Lowlands than the Highlands. 
The Elm has a characteristic habit. The main trunk is generally 
erect, branching at some distance from the base. But lateral boughs 
commence at half its height, and there are thus two crowns, as it were, 
one above the other, with a gap between. There are many forms and 
varieties of the Common Elm, however, which differ in their habit. 
The species U. g/abrva has drooping branches like the Wych Elm. 
The trunk is, when full-grown, sometimes 125 ft. in height, and the 
girth as much as 20 ft., or even 30-40 ft. 
The bark is grey, rugged, and often corky (U. swéevosa, Ehrh.). 
The young branches are sometimes corky. The lower horizontal 
branches are often very large and as much as 30-40 ft. long, sometimes 
becoming too bulky and snapping asunder. They may spring from 
the bole at about ro ft. from the ground, or at a height of 15~20 ft. 
The leaves are oblique, unequal at the base, smaller than in the Wych 
