The Latin word ulmus came into Spanish as elm . This is the name given to a tree that is part of the Ulmacaceae family group.
Elms have a solid trunk with thick bark. In its very thick crown, there are an abundance of leaves with both sides green and flowers with a whitish or reddish hue. Elms also have nuts that have oval-shaped seeds .
With a height of up to twenty meters, elms are abundant in the Spanish territory . Although they are more common in the northern hemisphere, they have also reached countries in the southern hemisphere through cultivation.
Other interesting facts about the elm are the following:
-It is a deciduous type tree.
-It is very well appreciated for the good shade it offers.
-Its bark is highly valued and is used in different sectors. Thus, for example, it is used both to shape infusions and to create tinctures of various kinds.
-The place that is full of elm trees is called Olmedo.
In the field of health, elm is widely used, through its different parts, because it has an important series of beneficial properties. Among them we can highlight the following:
-It is considered to improve the quality of life of people who suffer from cancer.
-Helps significantly reduce the symptoms of those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome.
-It is a good remedy against constipation, but also against diarrhea
-In the same way, it is considered very useful to deal with all types of wounds and burns.
To all this we must add that it is effective against cough, bladder infection, herpes, rheumatism, toothache and even syphilis or certain stomach ulcers.
It is important to note that the global population of elms has been drastically reduced by graphiosis , a disease caused by a fungus. This organism enters the xylem vessels and as it expands, it causes the leaves to wither until the tree dies.
Beetles are the vectors that spread graphiosis. This insect usually transfers the spores of the fungus in its body, carrying them from diseased elm trees to healthy ones. To control the pest, various strategies have been implemented, such as the use of insecticides and the removal of dead trees.
It should be noted that we can find the term Olmo (or Olmos ) in the name of many cities , such as Olmo de la Guareña ( Spain ), Olmos (there is a town of this name in Peru and another in Uruguay ) and Olmos Park ( United States ). .
Finally, Luis del Olmo Alonso - better known as Olmo - is a Spanish cartoonist and journalist who created the character Don Celes , protagonist of a famous comic strip.
In the same way, we cannot forget the Mexican actress Marisol del Olmo (1975), known for her roles in series such as “Esperanza del corazón” and “Pasión” or in films such as “Ladies and gentlemen” (2011).
Finally, it must be emphasized that there are numerous cultural works that use the term in question in their titles. This would be the case, for example, of the book “The Secret of the Elm” (2019) by Tana French.