Ulmus 'Wentworthii'
Encyclopedia
Ulmus 'Wentworthii', commonly known as the Wentworth Elm, is a cultivar with a distinctive weeping habit which appears to have been introduced to cultivation towards the end of the 19th century. A putative hybrid, little is known of its history; indeed, the tree is not mentioned in either Elwes
& Henry's
or Bean's
classic works on British trees. The earliest known references are German and Dutch, the first by de Vos in 1890. At about the same time, the tree was offered for sale by the Späth nursery
of Berlin
, suggesting the tree was, in spite of its name, of German origin (see Etymology).
The only known references to the provenance of the Wentworth Elm are two found in the Ulmus 'Names' list of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
, where it is identified as a hybrid of the Huntingdon Elm Ulmus × hollandica 'Vegeta' and Plot's Elm Ulmus minor var. plotii (RBGE ref. no. 32931). However, the Royal Botanic Garden specimen bore no trace of Plot's elm parentage in either form or leaves. Melville
dismissed the Wentworthii Pendula growing at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew
as simply U. × vegeta http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1605.pdf.
, but has not been listed under the cultivar name.
The tree is not known to have been introduced to North America
or Australasia
.
, the largest Classical
house in Britain, or the architect of its grounds, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
, or for the nearby Wentworth Castle
. However, there is no known recorded association of the tree with the estate, and it may, in view of its predominant German association, have been named for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672–1739), Queen Anne's ambassador
to the Prussian court
, a much esteemed figure in Berlin
during the wars with Louis XIV of France
.
Henry John Elwes
Henry John Elwes, FRS was a British botanist, entomologist, author, lepidopterist, naturalist, collector and traveller who became renowned for collecting specimens of lilies during trips to the Himalayas and Korea. He was the first person to receive the Victoria Medal of the Royal Horticultural...
& Henry's
Augustine Henry
Augustine Henry was an Irish plantsman and sinologist. He is best known for sending over 15,000 dry specimens and seeds and 500 plant samples to Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. By 1930, he was a recognised authority and was honoured with society membership in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Finland,...
or Bean's
William Jackson Bean
William Jackson Bean was a British botanist and plantsman, who was curator of Kew Gardens from 1922 to 1929. He was responsible for some of the present collections of trees and woody plants there....
classic works on British trees. The earliest known references are German and Dutch, the first by de Vos in 1890. At about the same time, the tree was offered for sale by the Späth nursery
Späth nursery
The Späth family created one of the world's most notable plant nurseries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nursery had been founded in 1720 by Christoph Späth but removed to the erstwhile district of Baumschulenweg in south-east Berlin in 1863 when Franz Ludwig Späth succeeded his father...
of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, suggesting the tree was, in spite of its name, of German origin (see Etymology).
The only known references to the provenance of the Wentworth Elm are two found in the Ulmus 'Names' list of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
, where it is identified as a hybrid of the Huntingdon Elm Ulmus × hollandica 'Vegeta' and Plot's Elm Ulmus minor var. plotii (RBGE ref. no. 32931). However, the Royal Botanic Garden specimen bore no trace of Plot's elm parentage in either form or leaves. Melville
Ronald Melville
Ronald Melville was an English botanist, based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. He is chiefly remembered for his wartime research into rosehips as a source of vitamin C, prompted by the epidemic of scurvy amongst children owing to the reduced importation of fresh fruit...
dismissed the Wentworthii Pendula growing at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
as simply U. × vegeta http://arnoldia.arboretum.harvard.edu/pdf/articles/1605.pdf.
Description
The mature Wentworth Elm in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was a graceful, bell-shaped tree with a straight bole clear to 3 metres with 'latticed' bark typical of 'Vegeta', supporting fan-shaped arching branches, the outer ones pendulous. The leaves were similar to 'Vegeta' in shape and texture but much larger, up to 18 cm [7 inches] long,. The tightly-clustered, apetalous wind-pollinated flowers are bright red, and appear in early spring.Cultivation
Specimens of the Wentworth Elm held at Kew Gardens and the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh ultimately succumbed to disease towards the end of the 20th century. Another example of the same putative cross as the Edinburgh tree is held as part of the NCCPG National Elm Collection at BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, but has not been listed under the cultivar name.
The tree is not known to have been introduced to 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...
or Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
.
Etymology
The tree is possibly named for Wentworth WoodhouseWentworth Woodhouse
Wentworth Woodhouse is a Grade I listed country house near the village of Wentworth, in the vicinity of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. "One of the great Whig political palaces", its East Front, long, is the longest country house façade in Europe. The house includes 365 rooms and covers an...
, the largest Classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
house in Britain, or the architect of its grounds, Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham
Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, KG, PC , styled The Hon. Charles Watson-Wentworth before 1733, Viscount Higham between 1733 and 1746, Earl of Malton between 1746 and 1750 and The Earl Malton in 1750, was a British Whig statesman, most notable for his two terms as Prime...
, or for the nearby Wentworth Castle
Wentworth Castle
Wentworth Castle is a stately home and estate near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It was originally the seat of the Earls of Strafford. An older house existed on the estate, then called Stainborough, when it was purchased by Thomas Wentworth, Lord Raby , in 1711...
. However, there is no known recorded association of the tree with the estate, and it may, in view of its predominant German association, have been named for Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1672–1739), Queen Anne's ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the Prussian court
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, a much esteemed figure in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
during the wars with Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
.
Synonymy
- Ulmus campestris wendworthiensis Hort.: SchelleErnst SchelleErnst Schelle was a German botanist who specialized in cacti. He was employed as Inspector of the Botanical Gardens in Tübingen. The grass species Helictotrichon schellianum Kitag.is named for him.-Publications:...
in BeissnerLudwig BeissnerLudwig Beissner was a German horticulturalist and dendrologist who was a native of Ludwigslust.From 1887 to 1913 Beissner was inspector of the Botanical Gardens of Bonn...
et al., Handb. Laubh.-Benenn. 84, 1903. - Ulmus campestris wentworthiensis: Späth nurserySpäth nurseryThe Späth family created one of the world's most notable plant nurseries of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The nursery had been founded in 1720 by Christoph Späth but removed to the erstwhile district of Baumschulenweg in south-east Berlin in 1863 when Franz Ludwig Späth succeeded his father...
, (BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
), Cat. 143, p. 135, 1910-11. - Ulmus campestris 'Wentworthii': Dippel http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=102705, Handb. Laubh. 2: 24, 1892.
- Ulmus wentworthii pendula: C. de Vos http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=172332, Handboek, Supplement, 16, 1890.
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. Tree in Portland Avenue, HoveHoveHove 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...
, UK.