The great elm in Bubbetorp

Bubbetorps gård boasts a magnificent elm tree with an impressive circumference of 529 cm.

An elm tree provides a lot of shade, partly because the rough leaves are set horizontally in a dense mosaic, but under strong sunlight, the leaves fold like a V to reduce evaporation.

Elm provides a strong, beautifully grained wood used as a material for the bottom planks of sailing ships and canal barges, especially in the UK.

Elm trees blossom on bare branches early in April/May and the small elm fruits (which often grow in thick clusters) can be eaten straight from the tree, in a green salad or fried in butter, at least as long as they are light green and have not yellowed/dried. They have a slight nutty flavour.

In Swedish, Elm seeds are called “manna”. After a few weeks the plentiful seeds fall to the ground and can form great drifts like “manna from heaven”.

Source: Wikipedia