THE WYCH ELM. 



XTVmus monta'na Stokes. 



Whether a particular tree is or is not indigenous is 

 often a difficult question to decide. One of the most 

 difficult cases is that of our Common Elm (Ulmus 

 surculo'sa). The Wych Elm, however (U. montana 

 Stokes), has far more irrefragable claims to be con- 

 sidered one of our native trees. Though more abun- 

 dant to the north of the Trent, it is, -wherever it 

 occurs, less distinctly a hedgerow tree than its con- 

 gener, though its name, montana, the Mountain Elm, 

 which seems to have been applied to it in very 

 ancient times, is not very appropriate. It produces 

 seed freely even in Scotland, being, in fact, often 

 known as the Scotch Elm ; and, unlike the Common 

 Elm, seldom producing suckers, it depends entirely 

 upon its seed for the perpetuation of the species. 

 Lastly, in addition to the forty places mentioned in 

 " Doomsday " with names derived from that of the 

 Elm, it must be remembered that the Wych Elm 

 was formerly known, even more commonly, as the 

 Wych Hazel, and may accordingly have given rise to 

 some of the names apparently due to the true Hazel. 



The name Wych is of uncertain origin. Turner 

 uses it alone. In his " Names of Herbes" (1548) he 



" Vlmus is called in greeke Ptelea, in englishe an Elme tree, or 

 a Wich tree, in duch ein Vlme baume, or Ylmen or Knst baume, in 

 frenche Orme." 



50 81 



