| Ulmus ismaelis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaf of seedling | |
 | |
| Samarae | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Ulmaceae |
| Genus: | Ulmus |
| Species: | U. ismaelis |
| Binomial name | |
| Ulmus ismaelis | |
Ulmus ismaelis is a small tree discovered circa 1997 in southern Mexico byIsmael Calzada inriparianforest along theMixteco River system in northeasternOaxaca, where it grows among large boulders in the limestone canyons.[1] The tree has since been found in Honduras and El Salvador.[2] The tree is exceptional in its habitat: dry places, sometimes with less than 50 cm (19.7 in) per annum precipitation, and comparatively low altitudes of 450–750 m (1475–2460 ft).[2]
Rarely growing to over 15 m (49.2 ft) in height, typically less than 10 m (32.8 ft) with a trunkdiameter of 30 cm (1 ft); the tree has exfoliating orangish bark. Theovate leaves are coriaceous, less than 9.6 cm (3.8 in) in length by 4.6 cm (1.8 in) broad, acute at the apex, pinnately veined, on short 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) petioles; the colour ranges from dull green to light brown. Theapetalous flowers are arranged as short racemes on leafless twigs, sparsely clustered on less than 7 mm (0.28 in) peduncles. Thesamarae are less than 22 × 13 mm (0.9 x 0.5 in), tapering at the base to a less than 8 mm (0.3 in) stalk, withciliate margins, and are shed during June and July in Mexico;[1] in Honduras and El Salvador the tree flowers at the time of foliage change, just before the fall of the leaves of the previous season during the months of February and March, and fructifies from March to the end of April, coinciding with the emergence of the new season's leaves.[2]
No information available.
The tree is extremely rare in cultivation; it was introduced to Europe in 2019 as seed sent to theGrange Farm Arboretum,Lincolnshire, UK. Seedlings were later disseminated by the arboretum to Butterfly Conservation's main trials site, Great Fontley,Hampshire, UK, and the Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de Montes,Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain.
The species is named for the Mexican botanist and collector DrJuan Ismael Calzada, who discovered the tree.
