Belgica (Belgian Elm)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Belgian Elm |
|---|
 |
| Hybrid parentage |
| U. glabra × U. minor |
| Cultivar |
| Belgica |
| Origin |
| Belgium |
The Belgian Elm U. × hollandica Belgica has a broad crown supported by a straight, rough-barked stem. Unusually thriving on poor sandy soils, it proved one of the fastest-growing elms in Europe, typically achieving heights of up to 40m. The large obovate to elliptic leaves are < 12 cm long by 5 cm wide, and terminate at the apex as a long, serrated point.
Reputedly raised in the nurseries of the Abbey of Dunes, Furnes (later Bruges) in the 18th century, it became hugely popular throughout Belgium and the Netherlands. It was planted in great numbers along roads, and also in parks and gardens. Indeed, it was the loss of this particular elm, more than any other, to the earlier strain of Dutch elm disease that prompted the start of the Dutch elm breeding programme in 1928.
Contents |
[edit] Arboreta etc. accessions
[edit] North America
- Arnold Arboretum acc. no. 322-81
- Longwood Gardens acc. no. 1967-0877
- Morton Arboretum acc. no. 1457-24
[edit] Europe
- Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection [1]
[edit] Nurseries
None known.
[edit] Synonymy
- Ulmus batavina: Koch, Dendr. 2 (1): 414 1872).
- Ulmus belgica: Weston, Fl. Angl. 46. 1775.
- Ulmus campestris (: minor) bataviana: Simon-Louis, (Metz, France, Catalogue, 1869.
- Ulmus montana (: glabra) var. belgica
- Ulmus × hollandica var. belgica
[edit] References
- Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [2]
- Heybroek, H. (1993). The Dutch Elm Breeding Program. In Sticklen & Sherald (Eds.)(1993). Dutch Elm Disease Research, Chapter 3. Springer Verlag, New York, USA
- Hilliers' Manual of Trees & Shrubs. (1977). David & Charles, Newton Abbot, UK.
