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. glabra 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. suberosa, 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 10 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 



