Plinio (elm cultivar)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ulmus Plinio |
|---|
 |
| Hybrid parentage |
| 'Plantyn' x U. pumila clone S 2 |
| Cultivar |
| Plinio |
| Origin |
| IPP, Florence, Italy |
Plinio is an elm cultivar derived from a crossing of the Dutch hybrid cultivar 'Plantyn' with the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila clone S 2. It was raised by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP) in Florence, and released for sale in 2003.
'Plinio' is a well-rounded tree with a broad crown, the width typically equalling 70% of height, and a short, straight trunk. The leaves are up to 15 cm long and glabrous on both sides. It is highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease and fast growing (though slower than its sibling San Zanobi) in Italy, where it commences flowering in its third year.
The tree is only commercially available outside Italy by mail order. It was introduced to the UK by Butterfly Conservation in 2003, and is being evaluated at several sites in Hampshire. Specimens are also held in the UK by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Sir Harold Hillier Gardens. It is not known (2006) to have been introduced to North America or Australasia.
It is named after the early Roman scientist Pliny the Elder (Plinio in Italian).
[edit] References
- Brookes, A. H. (2006). An evaluation of disease-resistant hybrid and exotic elms as larval host plants for the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly, Satyrium w-album. Part 1. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England.
- Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F. & Mittempergher L., (2002) San Zanobi and Plinio elm trees. HortScience 37(7): 1139-1141. 2002. American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.
