Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Japanese elm, "Harunire")

Japanese name: ハルニレ （春楡）
Scientific name: Ulmus davidiana var. japonica

[Overview]
A deciduous tree common in northern regions, found along mountain valleys and in moist lowland sites, reaching 30 m in height and 1 m in trunk diameter.
It sometimes forms dominant swamp forests.
The bark is rather deeply split vertically and peels off in irregular scales.
Young branches are densely covered with reddish brown soft hairs.
The leaves are simple and arranged alternately in two rows, obovate to elliptic, 3–15 cm long and 2–8 cm wide, with an asymmetrical base.
The leaves are rather thick, the upper surface is rough, and the vein axils on the underside are densely hairy.
The leaf margin has double serrations.
The petiole is densely covered with soft hairs.
The flowers are borne in clusters of 7–15 in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches.
The corolla is bell-shaped, purplish brown to pale pinkish, 4-lobed, with conspicuous purplish anthers.
The fruit is flat, obovate to broadly elliptic, 1.2–1.5 cm long, with a notched tip and a broad wing around the edge.
The seed is located in the upper part of the winged fruit.

[Uses]
The bark is used medicinally.
The wood is used as a substitute for Keyaki for hollowed-out woodwork and household utensils.
The bark was used as a substitute for rope.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed.
It prefers fertile soil with good sun, drainage and water retention.
For potted plants, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
For fertilizer in winter, dig holes around plants in the ground and apply organic fertilizer; for potted plants, use fertilizer placed on the soil.
It tolerates pruning.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

[Notes]
The Japanese name means a Nire (elm) that flowers in spring.

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