The elm Ulmus wallichiana subsp. xanthoderma was identified by Melville and Heybroek after the latter's expedition to the Himalaya in 1960.[1] The tree is of more western distribution than subsp. wallichiana, ranging from Afghanistan to Kashmir.[2]
A deciduous tree growing to 30 m with a crown comprising several ascending branches. The bark of the trunk is pale grey, coarsely furrowed longitudinally. The branchlets become orange- or yellow-brown, glandular at first, not hairy. The leaves range from 5.6 - 14 cm long by 3 - 7.5 cm broad, elliptic-acuminate in shape,[3] and with a glabrous upper surface, on petioles 7 - 10 mm long. The inflorescence is slightly glandular, almost glabrous. The samarae are orbicular to obovate, with a few glandular hairs; the seed central.[1] [2]
The tree has a high resistance to the fungus Ophiostoma himal-ulmi endemic to the Himalaya and the cause of Dutch elm disease there.[1]
There are a few trees planted in England and The Netherlands. It is not known in North America or Australasia.