Ulmus parvifolia

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Common products:
Solid timber of Ulmus parvifolia is marketed as furniture, interior joinery, paneling, and decorative veneer. The wood’s moderate density (≈0.55–0.70 g cm⁻³) and fine grain make it suitable for chairs, cabinets, and small‐scale construction components. In papermaking, the species yields a pulp with Kappa numbers of 15–20, producing writing and packaging papers and fiberboard (MDF and particleboard). A draft reference genome and associated transcriptome resources have been published, providing a public dataset for genetics and breeding research.

Industrial and craft applications:
The timber is used in cabinetry, interior flooring, wall panels, and utility items such as handles, tool parts, and small craft objects. Its low shrinkage and good dimensional stability allow smooth finishing, and the wood’s low extractive content minimizes discoloration during gluing and finishing processes.

Colorants and tanning:
Bark of U. parvifolia contains hydrolysable tannins (≈15–20 % of dry weight). Extracts are employed in leather tanning, yielding a natural brown vegetable‑tanned leather, and as a dyeing agent for protein fibers, producing warm brown shades without synthetic dyes.

Wood and fiber:
Both heartwood and sapwood are harvested for solid‑wood products, while the fibers are processed into pulp for paper and composite boards. The bark is separated for tannin extraction, leaving the wood for lumber.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Bark and leaf extracts are incorporated into some cosmetic formulations as astringent agents, particularly in skin‑care creams aimed at tightening pores. The species is not a primary source of essential oils but contributes to natural‑ingredient blends.

Properties relevant to use:
The wood exhibits a Janka hardness of 55–70 MPa, radial shrinkage ≈4 % and tangential ≈9 %, facilitating dimensional stability in finished goods. Lignin constitutes ≈25 % of dry mass, supporting pulp strength. The bark’s high hydrolysable tannin content provides effective leather‑tanning efficacy. Genomic data enable marker‑assisted selection for disease resistance and wood‑quality traits.

Standards and regulation:
Timber is graded under ISO 3130 for wood species classification and conforms to national Chinese timber quality standards (GB/T 19270). Pulp products meet ISO 5350 specifications for yield, brightness, and Kappa number. Cosmetics using elm bark extracts must comply with the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) guidelines and national regulations for botanical ingredients.

Sustainability and sourcing:
U. parvifolia is cultivated in plantations across China, Japan, and Korea and is harvested from urban tree‑management programs. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, allowing sustainable harvesting while its relatively rapid growth cycle (≈10–15 years) supports carbon sequestration in short‑rotation forestry systems.

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