Chinese elm

Language:

English

Ulmus parvifolia Jacq. © CFH Nature Museum

Botanical classification

Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.

Order:

Rosales

Family:

Ulmaceae

Synonyms:

Microptelea parvifolia (Jacq.) Spach

Planera parvifolia (Jacq.) Sweet

Ulmus campestris L. var. chinensis Loudon

Ulmus chinensis Pers.

Ulmus coreana Nakai

Ulmus japonica Siebold

Ulmus shirasawana Daveau

Ulmus sieboldii Daveau

Ulmus shirasawana Daveau

Plant growing area

China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Zhejiang), India, Japan (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Ryukyu), North Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam.

Grows below 800 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China, Korea.

Plant cultivation and use

Ulmus parvifolia is a deciduous tree up to 25 m in height. The pale yellow flowers appear in September. They produce samaras, ripe in October, which contain seeds. It prefers moist, well-drained soils, a sun exposure. It is resistant to low temperatures.

Chinese Elm is often used as an ornamental tree or for bonsais. Its very hard wood is used in making furniture and tools.

The leaves, bark and flowers have medicinal properties. Its leaves and fruits are edible. The inner bark dried and reduced to powder is used as a thickener in soups in Asia.

The mucilage extracted from the bark is used as formation aid in paper making. This viscous material is added to the pulp to increase its viscosity and thus delay the settling of fibers in the tank. In addition, the mucilage allows a better dispersion of the long fibers.

China:

It is frequently used beside Hibiscus manihot.

Its use is mentionned in "Wuli xiaoshi" or "Some Knowledge of Physics" written by Fang Yishi in 1643.

Korea:

Its bark has been used to produce formation aid in Korea until mid 19th century.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Lang yu	榔榆

Japanese

Akinire	アキニレ

Korean

Chamneuleubnamu	참느릅나무

French

Orme de Chine

English

Chinese elm

English

Lacebark elm

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Formation aid

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Chinese elm

Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.