Umbraculifera (elm cultivar)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Smooth-leaved Elm U. minor var. minor cultivar Umbraculifera was originally cultivated in Iran. The tree is distinguished by its dense, rounded habit, and was once widely planted in Iran as an ornamental, where it occasionally grew to an enormous size. The tree is indistinguishable from U. minor var. minor in all but shape. It was introduced to Europe in 1878 by Spath, who obtained it from a German gardener in the employ of the Shah, and was subsequently planted along streets in Berlin. The tree remains in commercial cultivation in the Netherlands [1].
The variety titled 'Umbraculifera gracilis', obtained as a sport of Umbraculifera by Spath, has a long, oval crown. It is grown at the Holden Arboretum in the USA (Accession no. 60-164), but is not known to be in cultivation in the UK or Australasia.
The name for the tree in Persian is 'Narwan', which is confusingly similar to the local name for the pomegranate.
Unhappily, the tree is as susceptible to Dutch elm disease as its U. minor siblings.
[edit] References
- Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication, Edinburgh. [2]
