Ulmus × hollandica 'Superba'
Encyclopedia
Ulmus × hollandica 'Superba', once commonly known in the UK as the Canterbury Elm, is one of a number of hybrids arising from the crossing of the Wych Elm
U. glabra with a variety of Field Elm
U. minor. Identified by Morren
as U. montana (: glabra) var. superba in Jour. Agric. Prat. Belg.: 411 1848 and much later by Krüssmann http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=168087 in Handb. Laubgeh. 2: 537, 1962 as a cultivar .
but with long stalks. The flowers too resemble those of the Wych Elm
.
to have been much valued as a street tree, notably in Magdeburg
, Germany
. It was cultivated in the UK by Masters at Canterbury
in the early 19th century, where it became known as 'Master's Canterbury Seedling' or simply the 'Canterbury Elm', and later, confusingly, as U. montana (: glabra) 'Major' . 'Superba' was reintroduced to the UK at Kew Gardens in 1900, obtained from the Späth nursery
in Berlin
, and remains represented by a specimen at Wakehurst Place donated in 1949; it survives by being treated as a hedging plant, too low to attract the attentions of the Scolytus
beetles which act as vectors of Dutch elm disease.
It is not known whether 'Superba' was introduced to North America. An elm identified as 'Superba' was photographed at the Ellwanger and Barry nursery at Mount Hope, Rochester, New York
, circa 1900. However, the photograph is also endorsed 'Belgian Elm', which it strongly resembles.
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 with a variety of Field Elm
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...
U. minor. Identified by Morren
Charles François Antoine Morren
Charles François Antoine Morren , was a Belgian botanist and horticulturist, and Director of the Jardin botanique de l’Université de Liège....
as U. montana (: glabra) var. superba in Jour. Agric. Prat. Belg.: 411 1848 and much later by Krüssmann http://asaweb.huh.harvard.edu:8080/databases/botanists?id=168087 in Handb. Laubgeh. 2: 537, 1962 as a cultivar .
Description
'Superba' is a rapidly-growing, narrow, pyramidal tree with smooth bark and steeply ascending branches, bearing large leaves very similar to the Wych ElmWych 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...
but with long stalks. The flowers too resemble those of the 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...
.
Cultivation
'Superba' was reputed by Louis SpäthSpäth 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...
to have been much valued as a street tree, notably in Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , 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...
. It was cultivated in the UK by Masters at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
in the early 19th century, where it became known as 'Master's Canterbury Seedling' or simply the 'Canterbury Elm', and later, confusingly, as U. montana (: glabra) 'Major' . 'Superba' was reintroduced to the UK at Kew Gardens in 1900, obtained from 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...
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...
, and remains represented by a specimen at Wakehurst Place donated in 1949; it survives by being treated as a hedging plant, too low to attract the attentions of the Scolytus
Scolytus
Scolytus is a genus of bark beetles . It includes several species notorious for destroying trees in the forests. The Dutch elm disease is spread in North America by two species : the native elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes, and the European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus...
beetles which act as vectors of Dutch elm disease.
It is not known whether 'Superba' was introduced to North America. An elm identified as 'Superba' was photographed at the Ellwanger and Barry nursery at Mount Hope, Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, circa 1900. However, the photograph is also endorsed 'Belgian Elm', which it strongly resembles.
Synonymy
- Ulmus montana (:glabra) var. major Masters: LoudunLoudunLoudun is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.It is located south of the town of Chinon and 25 km to the east of the town Thouars...
, Arb. Frut. Brit. 3: 1398, 1838. - Ulmus montana (:glabra) 'Superba' Lavallée, in error for 'Cornuta' .
- Ulmus superba A. Henry
Accessions
Europe- Wakehurst Place GardenWakehurst Place GardenWakehurst Place is National Trust property located near Ardingly, West Sussex in the High Weald of southern England , comprising a late 16th century country house and a mainly 20th century garden, managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew...
Wakehurst Place. Acc. no. 1949-42304 - 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 http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1108042; One tree in Stanmer ParkStanmer ParkStanmer Park is a large open park immediately to the west of the University of Sussex, and to the north-east of the town of Brighton in the county of East Sussex, England, UK....
Arboretum, once believed to be a cultivar of Ulmus americana, could be a mature example of this species.
External links
- http://www.2020site.org/trees/wychelm-tree.html