David Elm
Ulmus davidiana var. japonica · Ulmaceae · 느릅나무
How to spot it
Leaves are alternate, long elliptic, rough above and toothed; before the leaves emerge, in April to early May, 7 to 15 brownish-purple bell-shaped flowers cluster together, and the fruit (samara) is hairless. If the fruit has fine hairs, it is distinguished as the Chinese elm (dangneureupnamu).
(original photo, new tab)Leaf · Photo Ptelea · Public domain 
(original photo, new tab)Bark · Photo Stavast22 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Look
- Leaves
- Simple, alternate, obovate leaves about 10 cm long with doubly toothed margins, rough on both sides. New leaves emerge red and turn dark green.
- Flowers
- Blooms in early spring on two-year-old twigs, before the leaves.
- Fruit
- Obovate samara, about 19 x 14 mm.
- Bark
- Smooth for a long time, later fissured vertically.
Where it grows
- In Korea
- Native
- Native to
- Found across the Korean Peninsula from Daedunsan in Jeollanam-do to Jeungsan in Hamgyeongbuk-do, at 100 to 1,200 m; also in Japan, Europe, Hebei in China, Manchuria and Sakhalin.
- Ecology
- Grows well in moist, deep, fertile soil in mountain valleys and along streams; very shade-tolerant and cold-hardy but weak against salt and pollution, and likes damp places. Sprouts well, and seedlings come up from naturally fallen seed.