Essex Elm
Essex is holy ground for the elm systematist. Nowhere else in England, nowhere
else in Europe is so complex an assemblage of elms to be found.
R. H. Richens (1983) Elm
Around the fields soared tall elms with branches like Gothic tracery writing the
unmistakeable signature of Essex across the sky.
Glyn H. Morgan (1951) Forgotten Thameside
At the same time, it seems likely that the phenomenon was more noticeable in Essex
than anywhere else, owing to the enormous abundance of the elm in our county,
where it is certainly the most characteristic and abundant tree, taking the county
as a whole, and forms (as is sometimes said) a 'common hedge weed'.
Miller Christy (1909) Essex Naturalist
(Writing of an unusually prolific fruiting of elm that year)
There are, however, not a few who maintain that the Common Elm of Essex is
Ulmus glabra. The point is one on which the best botanists differ so widely that
anyone who has not studied the subject deeply shows wisdom in not expressing a
dogmatic opinion. To whichever species it may belong, Prof. Boulger has called
it 'the Essex Elm', on account of its remarkable abundance in the county.
Miller Christy (1909) Essex Naturalist
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