Dutch Elm
Encyclopedia
Although all naturally occurring Field Elm
(Ulmus minor) × Wych Elm
(U. glabra) hybrids are loosely termed 'Dutch elm' (U. × hollandica
), Ulmus × hollandica 'Major' is a distinctive cultivar that in England came to be known specifically as the Dutch Elm. In origin a hybrid elm of Picardy
and northern France
, where it was known from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries as ypereau or ypreau, the tree was introduced to England from Holland in the late seventeenth century as a fashion-elm associated with William & Mary, the name ‘Dutch Elm' having been coined by Queen Mary's resident botanist Dr Leonard Plukenet
.
In areas unaffected by Dutch elm disease
, 'Major' often attains a height of > 30 m, with a short bole
and irregular, wide-spreading branches. In open-grown specimens, more 'sky' may be seen through the branches of 'Major' than though the crowns of English elm
or wych elm - a useful diagnostic feature. The bark of the trunk is dark and deeply fissured, and like English elm, forms irregular 'plates' in mature specimens, serving to distinguish it from the Huntingdon Elm
, the other commonly planted U. × hollandica
in the UK.
The leaves are oval
, < 12 cm long by 7 cm wide, the top surface dark green and glossy, with a long serrated point at the apex. The red apetalous, perfect, wind-pollinated flowers are produced in spring in large clusters of up to 50. The obovate
samarae
are up to 25 mm long by 18 mm broad. The cultivar may be distinguished from other elms by the corky ridges which on mature trees occur only on the epicormic branches of the trunk. On immature trees and suckers, the corky bark is more pronounced.
Dutch Elm suckers are sometimes confused with English, which may explain the widespread and random occurrence of the former in hedgerows in southern Britain. 'Major' comes into leaf some three weeks later, and loses its leaves some three weeks earlier than English elm
, and when young, is straighter, stouter and more open in its branching. It is usually more vigorous than the latter. The larger, tapering leaves, predominantly corky bark, and bold herringbone outline of Dutch Elm suckers also help to distinguish them from those of English elm.
The seed is rarely viable, but the tree suckers profusely from roots . In the south of Britain, 'Major' is commonly found as a sucker, sometimes in mixed hedgerows with English Elm
, U. procera. Large Dutch Elm sucker-populations have been found in south west Wales
, Cornwall
and along the south coast of England. Mature trees are rare, except in Brighton
and Hove
, East Sussex
; The Level, in Brighton, alone has over 80 specimens in a double avenue. Other fine trees can be seen in the city along the London Road and in private gardens. There are also good examples in Edinburgh
along Fettes Row, and a single mature 'Major' survives at the extreme east end of Princes Street Gardens (2010).
In North America
'Major' is grown at several arboreta and along the streets of Portland, Oregon
. The cultivar is also grown in parks in Australia
, notably Melbourne
, and New Zealand
. 'Major' is also known to have been marketed (as U. montana gigantea) in Poland
in the 19th century by the Ulrich nursery , Warsaw
, and may still survive in Eastern Europe
.
's English Botany 36: t. 2542, published in 1814, identifying the tree as Ulmus major. Krüssmann formally recognized the tree as the cultivar U. × hollandica 'Major' in 1962
Field Elm
Ulmus minor Mill., the Field Elm, is by far the most polymorphic of the European species, although its taxonomy remains a matter of contention. Its natural range is predominantly south European, extending to Asia Minor; its northern outposts are the Baltic islands of Öland and Gotland, although it...
(Ulmus minor) × Wych Elm
Wych Elm
Ulmus glabra, the Wych elm or Scots elm, has the widest range of the European elm species, from Ireland eastwards to the Urals, and from the Arctic Circle south to the mountains of the Peloponnese in Greece; it is also found in Iran...
(U. glabra) hybrids are loosely termed 'Dutch elm' (U. × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica Mill. , often known simply as Dutch Elm, is a natural hybrid between Wych Elm Ulmus glabra and Field Elm Ulmus minor which commonly occurs across Europe wherever the ranges of the two parent species overlap. In England, according to the field-studies of R. H...
), Ulmus × hollandica 'Major' is a distinctive cultivar that in England came to be known specifically as the Dutch Elm. In origin a hybrid elm of Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
and northern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where it was known from the fifteenth to nineteenth centuries as ypereau or ypreau, the tree was introduced to England from Holland in the late seventeenth century as a fashion-elm associated with William & Mary, the name ‘Dutch Elm' having been coined by Queen Mary's resident botanist Dr Leonard Plukenet
Leonard Plukenet
Leonard Plukenet was an English botanist, Royal Professor of Botany and gardener to Queen Mary. Plukenet published Phytographia in four parts in which he described and illustrated rare exotic plants. It is a copiously illustrated work of more than 2 700 figures and is frequently cited in books...
.
Description
Dutch elm disease
Dutch elm disease is a disease caused by a member of the sac fungi category, affecting elm trees which is spread by the elm bark beetle. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease has been accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where it has devastated native...
, 'Major' often attains a height of > 30 m, with a short bole
Bole
-Geographical locations:* Bole District, Ghana* Bole, Ghana, town* Bole, Nottinghamshire, England* Bole International Airport * Bole, Xinjiang, China-Other:* Bole2Harlem, an Ethiopian hip hop fusion band* Bole , a unit of momentum...
and irregular, wide-spreading branches. In open-grown specimens, more 'sky' may be seen through the branches of 'Major' than though the crowns of English elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera Salisb., the English, Common, or more lately Atinian, Elm was, before the advent of Dutch elm disease, one of the largest and fastest-growing deciduous trees in Europe...
or wych elm - a useful diagnostic feature. The bark of the trunk is dark and deeply fissured, and like English elm, forms irregular 'plates' in mature specimens, serving to distinguish it from the Huntingdon Elm
Huntingdon Elm
Ulmus × hollandica Mill. Vegeta Lindley , sometimes known as the Huntingdon Elm, is an old English cultivar raised at Brampton, near Huntingdon by nurserymen Wood & Ingram in 1746, allegedly from seed collected from an Ulmus × hollandica hybrid at nearby Hinchingbrooke Park...
, the other commonly planted U. × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica Mill. , often known simply as Dutch Elm, is a natural hybrid between Wych Elm Ulmus glabra and Field Elm Ulmus minor which commonly occurs across Europe wherever the ranges of the two parent species overlap. In England, according to the field-studies of R. H...
in the UK.
The leaves are oval
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, < 12 cm long by 7 cm wide, the top surface dark green and glossy, with a long serrated point at the apex. The red apetalous, perfect, wind-pollinated flowers are produced in spring in large clusters of up to 50. The obovate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
samarae
Samara (fruit)
A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall. A samara is a simple dry fruit and indehiscent . It is a winged achene...
are up to 25 mm long by 18 mm broad. The cultivar may be distinguished from other elms by the corky ridges which on mature trees occur only on the epicormic branches of the trunk. On immature trees and suckers, the corky bark is more pronounced.
Dutch Elm suckers are sometimes confused with English, which may explain the widespread and random occurrence of the former in hedgerows in southern Britain. 'Major' comes into leaf some three weeks later, and loses its leaves some three weeks earlier than English elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera Salisb., the English, Common, or more lately Atinian, Elm was, before the advent of Dutch elm disease, one of the largest and fastest-growing deciduous trees in Europe...
, and when young, is straighter, stouter and more open in its branching. It is usually more vigorous than the latter. The larger, tapering leaves, predominantly corky bark, and bold herringbone outline of Dutch Elm suckers also help to distinguish them from those of English elm.
Cultivation
The ‘Dutch’ elm quickly became popular in eighteenth-century estate plantations in England, survivors today being naturalised relics of this planting fashion; but the tree was always rare in the Netherlands, where from the eighteenth century hollandse iep (Holland elm) meant the widely-planted hybrid Ulmus × hollandica Belgica (Belgian Elm).The seed is rarely viable, but the tree suckers profusely from roots . In the south of Britain, 'Major' is commonly found as a sucker, sometimes in mixed hedgerows with English Elm
English Elm
Ulmus procera Salisb., the English, Common, or more lately Atinian, Elm was, before the advent of Dutch elm disease, one of the largest and fastest-growing deciduous trees in Europe...
, U. procera. Large Dutch Elm sucker-populations have been found in south west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and along the south coast of England. Mature trees are rare, except in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
; The Level, in Brighton, alone has over 80 specimens in a double avenue. Other fine trees can be seen in the city along the London Road and in private gardens. There are also good examples in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
along Fettes Row, and a single mature 'Major' survives at the extreme east end of Princes Street Gardens (2010).
In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
'Major' is grown at several arboreta and along the streets of Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The cultivar is also grown in parks in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, notably Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. 'Major' is also known to have been marketed (as U. montana gigantea) in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the 19th century by the Ulrich nursery , Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, and may still survive in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
.
Etymology
The epithet 'Major' was first adopted by Smith in SowerbyGeorge Brettingham Sowerby I
George Brettingham Sowerby I was a British naturalist, illustrator, and conchologist.He was the son of James Sowerby. Together with his brother James De Carle Sowerby he continued their father's work on fossil shells, publishing the latter parts of the Mineral Conchology of Great Britain...
's English Botany 36: t. 2542, published in 1814, identifying the tree as Ulmus major. Krüssmann formally recognized the tree as the cultivar U. × hollandica 'Major' in 1962
Synonymy
- Ulmus × hollandica 'Hollandica': Richens
- Ulmus montana (: glabra) var. gigantea Hort.: Kirchner http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=102729, in Petzold http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=102728 & Kirchner, Arb. Muscav. 564, 1864
- ?Ulmus montana (: glabra) var. macrophylla fastigiata Hort.: Nicholson, Kew Hand-List Trees & Shrubs, 2: 141, 1896
- Ulmus praestans: Beterams, Mitt. Deut. Dendr. Ges. 20: 250, 1911
- ?Ulmus × hollandica YpreauUlmus × hollandica 'Ypreau'Ulmus × hollandica Ypreau is one of a number of cultivars arising from the crossing of the Wych Elm U. glabra with a variety of Field Elm U. minor. The tree was first identified by Poederlé in Man. Arb. For...
: Richens
North America
- Arnold Arboretum. Acc. no. 241-98, from cultivated material.
- Longwood GardensLongwood GardensLongwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
. Acc. no. L-0600, unrecorded provenance. - Morton ArboretumMorton ArboretumThe Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, covers 1,700 acres and is made up of gardens of various plant types and collections of trees from specific taxonomical and geographical areas. It includes native woodlands and a restored Illinois prairie. The Arboretum has over 4,100 different species of...
. Acc. nos. 1114-25, 338-46.
Europe
- Brighton & HoveBrighton & HoveBrighton and Hove is a unitary authority area and city on the south coast of England. It is England's most populous seaside resort.In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium...
City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection. Over 1000 trees, the finest on the Preston/London Road (A27) which are the TROBIThe Tree RegisterThe Tree Register, or more fully, the Tree Register of the British Isles , is a registered charity collating and updating a database of notable trees throughout Britain and Ireland...
UK Champions. Other locations include The Level, Royal Pavilion Gardens, Old Steine War Memorial, Freshfield Road (pollards), Surrenden Road, Ovingdean Hall School, Park Crescent Gardens, Hove Park, Woodvale Cemetery, and St. Nicholas churchyard. - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Trees at the Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows.
- Royal Botanic GardensRoyal Botanic GardensRoyal Botanic Gardens or Royal Botanical Gardens might refer to:* Royal Botanical Gardens in Canada* Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid in Spain* Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago...
Wakehurst Place, UK. Acc. no. 1973-20146.
Australasia
- Avenue of HonourAvenue of honourAvenue of Honour is the term given to a memorial avenue of trees, with each tree symbolising a person.The tradition, which originated in the Goldfields region of Victoria, Australia is an important part of Australian culture....
, Ballarat, Australia, as 'Hollandica'. - Eastwoodhill ArboretumEastwoodhill ArboretumEastwoodhill is the national arboretum of New Zealand. It covers and is located 35 km northwest of Gisborne, in the hill country of Ngatapa. It was founded in 1910 by William Douglas Cook...
http://www.eastwoodhill.org.nz/gardens--collection/collection.aspx?Type=&G=Ulmus, GisborneGisborne, New Zealand-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, 10 trees, details not known.
Australasia
- Established Tree Planters Pty. Ltd., Wandin, Victoria, Australia. http://establishedtrees.com.au