Ulmus wallichiana subsp. wallichiana was identified by Melville and Heybroek after the latter's expedition to the Himalaya in 1960.[1]
A deciduous tree growing to 30 m with a crown comprising several ascending branches. The bark of the trunk is grey-brown, furrowed longitudinally. The leaves range from 6 - 13 cm long by 2.5 - 6 cm broad, elliptic-acuminate in shape,[2] and with a glabrous upper surface, on petioles 5 - 10 mm long. The samarae are orbicular to obovate, 10 - 13 mm in diameter, on 5 mm pedicels, the seed central.[1]
The tree has a high resistance to the fungus Ophiostoma himal-ulmi endemic to the Himalayas and the cause of Dutch elm disease there.[1]
The tree is not known to be in cultivation beyond the Himalaya.