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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228247
Title: Ulmaceae

Author
item Whittemore, Alan

Submitted to: Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2.
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/7/2009
Publication Date: 1/31/2012
Citation: Whittemore, A.T. 2012. Ulmaceae. Jepson Manual of the Higher Plants of California, Ed. 2. pp. 1260-1262.

Interpretive Summary: This contribution will form a section of The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a manual published by the University of California to provide up-to date information on the taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all plants that are wild or invasive in California, together with a guide for identification, aimed at professional and sophisticated amateur users. The taxonomy, distribution, and ecological status of all species of Ulmaceae that are subject to escape in California is reevaluated, based primarily on a thorough reexamination of available herbarium specimens, and a guide for identification is supplied. Four species in the single genus Ulmus are included. These are important as an ornamental shade tree and a source of high-quality wood, and two species are considered invasive and require monitoring. This contribution provides up-to-date information on the biology of this group of species, along with identification aids. It will support accurate identification of species that are monitored as invasives. It will be used by professional land managers, educators, conservationists, and sophisticated amateur botanists and horticulturalists, insuring that work on land management and conservation will be based on full, accurate and up-to-date information about the basic biology and relationships of these organisms.

Technical Abstract: The family Ulmaceae is treated for The Jepson Manual of the higher plants of California, a detailed floristic manual for the state published by the University of California. One genus and four species are recognized; full morphological descriptions, dichotomous keys, and brief summaries of geographical and ecological distribution, economic use, and taxonomic notes are given for each of them. Elms are important as ornamental shade trees and as a source of high-quality wood, and two species are considered invasive and require monitoring. This contribution will support accurate identification of invasive species in the southwestern United States.