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Details for: Ames 27341, Ulmus thomasii Sarg., JDC/UT/2017/021/775

Summary Data

Taxonomy:

Ulmus thomasii Sarg.

Top Name:

JDC/UT/2017/021/775

Origin:

Collected – Nebraska, United States

Maintained:

North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

Received by NPGS:

28 Oct 2003

Improvement Status:

Wild material

Reproductive Uniformity:

Population

Form Received:

Seed

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Life Habit:

Tree

Backup Location:

National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation

Availability

	Form	Quantity	Note	Inventory	Cart
	Cutting	5 count		Ames 27341 17ncaim1 PL
	Seed	100 count		Ames 27341 17ncab02 SD

Note: When you select cuttings, you will receive unrooted cuttings, not rooted plants, unless specific arrangements have been made with the curator.

Images (29 total. Click on image for more.)

Core Passport Data

Taxonomy:

Ulmus thomasii Sarg.

Top Name:

JDC/UT/2017/021/775

Origin:

Collected – Nebraska, United States

Maintained:

North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station

Received by NPGS:

28 Oct 2003

Improvement Status:

Wild material

Reproductive Uniformity:

Population

Form Received:

Seed

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Life Habit:

Tree

Source History

Collected

Dixon County, Nebraska, United States
Locality: Ponca State Park just north of Ponca approximately 2.75 miles T30N R6E N1/3 SE 1/4 Sec. 3
Coordinates: 42.6017, -96.7122 (Map it)
Elevation: 383m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Eastern slopes and ridges of loess bluffs
Number of plants sampled: 1
Associated species: Tilia americana, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Celtis occidentalis, Quercus macrocarpa, Ostrya virginiana, and Ulmus rubra.
Comment: Small localized population. Collection made from state champion tree.
Collector(s):

02 June 2017.
Nebraska, United States
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Number of plants sampled: 13
Comment: Recollection. Prior reconnaissance work recorded peak flowering of Ulmus rubra and Ulmus americana at Ponca State Park occurred on 7 March 2017 while Ulmus thomasii was at/near bud swell (same date). Peak fruiting of Ulmus thomasii occurred on 2 June 2017.
Collector(s):

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

Donated

28 October 2003.
Nebraska, United States

Donor(s):

Henrickson, Bob, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

04 June 2017.
Iowa, United States

Donor(s):

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

Accession Group(s)

Group name: NC7.Regional.Ornamental.Plant.Trials
Note: Accessions distributed through the NC-7 Regional Woody Ornamental Trials.
To search for accessions in this group, click the following link. NC7.Regional.Ornamental.Plant.Trials

Accession Names and Identifiers

JDC/UT/2017/021/775

Type: Collector identifier

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-1

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 22.86 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-11

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 20.32 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-2

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 33.02 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-3

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 27.305 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-4

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 25.4 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-5

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 17.78 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-6

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 73.025 cm d.b.h. Nebraska State Champion Rock Elm.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-7

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 22.225 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-8

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 40.64 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-9

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 22.86 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-10

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 25.4 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-12

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 10.16 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

775-13

Type: Other or unclassified name

Single mother tree measuring 15.24 cm d.b.h.

Carstens, Jeffrey D. USDA, ARS, NCRPIS

Ames 27341

Type: Site identifier

Group: AMES

NC-7 Research Numbers

Narrative

Ulmus thomasii (Rock elm) is an underutilized tree species both in conservation and in the urban landscape. Charles Sprague Sargent (first director of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston, MA) described the wood of Rock Elm as "heavy, hard, very strong and tough, closely grained, and susceptible of receiving a beautiful polish". Historically noted for a variety of uses in woodworking including furniture, heavy agricultural implements, timber frame buildings, pianos, hockey sticks, and hand tools. U. thomasii is extremely drought tolerant, adaptable to very calcareous soils, and compared to U. americana or U. rubra has a very conservative growth rate requiring minimal attention in regards to pruning. Rock elm naturally tends to develop into a nice structural specimen in the landscape, unlike other fast growing U. americana cultivars in the nursery trade needing frequent attention. Rock elm has very fissured bark and is well known for maintaining a strong central leader resulting in a very attractive, pyramidal form. Despite many literature sources stating that "wings" on the stems are a key identifiying characteristic, this trait is not reliable and many genotypes may completely lack "wings" on the stems. While growth habit and morphology of dormant buds (very pointy) are good traits to help aid in identification, fruits are the best way to confirm identity. Fruits are densly pubescent, often described as "inflated" and generally reach maturity a couple weeks after U. rubra and U. americana. U. thomasii inflorescences are rather distinguishable from other Ulmus in being pendulous. Fruits are extremely prized treats for many birds, where fruits are often "robbed" prior to full maturity. Fruits are also highly prized by many other animals such as mice, squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, etc. and are generally consumed within hours after fruit abscission. The native range of U. thomasii is concentrated in the northeastern United States and into Canada with disjunct populations documented in northwestern Missouri and northwestern Arkansas (Little, E. L. Jr. 1971). In the 1895 Silva of North America (vol. 7) it was stated that, “The value of the wood of the Rock Elm threatens its extinction and most of the large trees have already been cut.” Today, since rock elm is rather rare, especially in areas near the edges of its range, many states list the species as endangered or threatened warranting preservation efforts. This accession was collected in northeast Nebraska (Dixon County) at Ponca State Park representing genetics from the extreme northwestern edge of the species native range and includes genetics (#775-6) from the current (2022) state champion. In an assessment of seedlings from all mother trees sampled (Carstens, J., personal communication, 12 April 2022), #775-4 produces the most vigorous seedlings which also consistently exhibited extremely corky/winged stems on new seedlings. Seedlings from other maternal lines show both winged and non-winged seedlings within the same maternal line and seedlings from some maternal lines have no wings.

Ulmus thomasii Sarg.

Genus:

Ulmus

Subgenus:

Oreoptelea

Section:

Trichoptelea

Family:

Ulmaceae

Nomen number:

101705

Place of publication:

Silva 14:102. 1902 "thomasi"

Verified:

05/06/2009 by ARS Systematic Botanists.

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Ulmus racemosa D. Thomas

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	cork elm			1	Voss, E. 1972-. Michigan flora.
English	rock elm			1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
French	orme de Thomas			2	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America.
German	Felsenulme			2	Encke, F. et al. 1993. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 14. Auflage
Swedish	klippalm			2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Annotations

Other Links

NC7 Trials Plant Description

Actions

Description Of NC7 Ornamental Trials: The NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials, began in 1954 through the efforts of a small group of dedicated horticulturists under the leadership of Professor S.A. McCrory of South Dakota State College (now University). The north central United States is a region of climatic extremes, and many parts of the region have alkaline soils that developed under grasslands. Because of these conditions, the diversity found in commercially available woody plants adapted to the area is less than that found in most other parts of our nation. The NC-7 Regional Ornamental Plant Trials were started with the ultimate goal of expanding the range of useful plants in the nursery trade. The emphasis in this program has been placed on detailed, long-term evaluations at a broad range of sites rather than on promotion of new plants. The NC-7 Trials rely on a network of horticultural cooperators located at sites scattered across the Central United States. Cooperators establish plantings, observe and evaluate the plants through the seasons, and prepare performance reports one, five, and ten years after planting. These reports are sent to the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS) in Ames, Iowa where they are recorded. Because of the broad range of environments found among the trial sites, it is unusual for any particular trial plant to perform well at a majority of the sites, making system-wide releases difficult. However, when plants perform especially well at sites, the NCRPIS Horticulturist assists trial site cooperators in introducing the new plants, with any official releases initiated through the cooperators' institutions rather than through the Plant Introduction Station.

Pathogens

Vouchers

Herbarium specimen

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 12 Apr 2017. Located at ISC - Ada Hayden Herbarium, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Identifier: Ames 27341. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 03ncaom2. Collection made in assistance with Nickolis Ouellette.

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 12 Apr 2017. Located at NA - United States National Arboretum, USDA/ARS. Identifier: Ames 27341. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 03ncaom2. Collection made in assistance with Nickolis Ouellette.

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 12 Apr 2017. Located at NEB - University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE. Identifier: Ames 27341. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 03ncaom2. Collection made in assistance with Nickolis Ouellette.

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 02 Jun 2017. Located at ISC - Ada Hayden Herbarium, Iowa State University, Ames, IA. Identifier: JDC/UT/2017/021/775-1. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 17ncao01.

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 02 Jun 2017. Located at NA - United States National Arboretum, USDA/ARS. Identifier: JDC/UT/2017/021/775-1. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 17ncao01.

Carstens, Jeffrey D., USDA, ARS, NCRPIS. 02 Jun 2017. Located at NEB - University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE. Identifier: JDC/UT/2017/021/775-1. Inventory sample: Ames 27341 17ncao01.

Citations

Little, E. L. Jr. 1971. Atlas of United States trees. Volume 1. Conifers and important hardwoods. Misc. Publ. 1146. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. 320p. Note: E. L. Little Jr. Range map for Ulmus thomasii. Number of accessions cited: 0
Miller, F. & G. Ware. 2022. Relative resistance of Ulmaceae for host susceptibility, feeding preference, and suitability for the adult beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). J. Environm. Hort. 40(2):46-66. DOI: 10.24266/2573-5586-40.2.46. Note: Reference to U. thomasii and not specifically to Ames 27341. Results of no-choice feeding bioassays determined adult Japanese beetles feeding on North American elms of U. alata and U. americana removed nearly twice as much leaf tissue in comparison to U. thomasii (Table 2). Collectively, for the 45 other Ulmus taxa or cultivars tested, only 10 had less feeding than U. thomasii (Table 2). Percent field defoliation survey results (Table 4) coincided with no-choice laboratory tests. No-choice fecundity bioassays (Table 7) concluded that very few (1) Japanese beetle eggs were laid on U. thomasii. Number of accessions cited: 3
Pruka, B. 2016. Ulmus thomasii: The hard elm that's hard to find. Arnoldia (Jamaica Plain) 74(1):28. Number of accessions cited: 4
Scholz, H. F. 1957. Silvical characteristics of Rock Elm Ulmus thomasii. Techn. Publ. U.S. Forest Serv. No. 47. Number of accessions cited: 5

Pedigree

Observations

Phenotype Data

Category	Descriptor	Description	Value	Sample Size	Study	Inventory	Availability
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	18.9417	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao12 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	18.9822	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao02 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	19.161	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao13 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	19.5994	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao06 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	19.8251	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao07 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	20.6834	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao09 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	20.8407	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao03 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	21.0775	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao08 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	21.4376	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao10 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	21.8528	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao04 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	22.184	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao05 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	23.1892	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao01 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED LENGTH	Length of seed (samara) in milimeters, including the membranous wing.	23.7044	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao11 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	11.0203	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao13 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.0749	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao12 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.262	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao02 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.2996	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao09 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.5963	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao06 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.7318	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao07 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	12.7547	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao10 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	13.2805	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao05 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	13.3617	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao08 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	13.4052	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao03 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	13.8534	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao11 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	14.2522	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao01 SD	Not Available
MORPHOLOGY	SEED WIDTH	Width of seed (samara) in millimeters, including the membranous wing.	14.3224	50	WOODY-ORNAMENTALS.ULMUS.SEEDS	Ames 27341 17ncao04 SD	Not Available