Ulmus 'Plinio'
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ulmus hybrid |
|---|
 |
| Hybrid parentage |
| 'Plantyn' × U. pumila '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 rounded shape of the tree renders it suitable for use in both ornamental and natural planting situations. The leaves are up to 15 cm long and glabrous on both sides [1] [2]. Like its compatriot 'San Zanobi', the tree is not possessed of striking autumn colours, the leaves remaining green almost until they fall in late November. The samarae are round, and range from 17 mm to 22 mm in diameter. Seed is first produced at the age of only three years, and has exhibited a modest viability of between 10% and 20%. [3].
'Plinio' 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 resistance of this hybrid was assessed in field trials by the artificial inoculation of trees with the fungal pathogen and monitoring symptoms like loss of leaves and tree dieback [1]. The tree is only commercially available outside Italy by mail order from a nursery near Rome. It was introduced to the UK by Butterfly Conservation in 2003 and is being evaluated at several sites in Hampshire, where it has been found to be fast growing in well-drained conditions and tolerant of ponding overwinter; it has been particularly successful on thin dry chalk rendzinas. However, top growth often exceeds stem development, necessitating judicious pruning and stake support for up to five years [3].
'Plinio' is not known to have been introduced to North America or Australasia.
Contents |
[edit] Arboreta etc. accessions
[edit] Europe
- Great Fontley Farm, Fareham, UK, Butterfly Conservation Elm Trials plantation, Home Field B1, J2, J6, (planted 2004).
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK, acc. no. 20042083
- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK, acc. no. 2004.0936
[edit] Nurseries
[edit] Europe
[edit] Etymology
'Plinio' is named for the early Roman scientist Pliny the Elder (Plinio in Italian).
[edit] References
- ^ a b Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F. & Mittempergher L., (2002) 'San Zanobi' and 'Plinio' elm trees. [1] HortScience 37(7): 1139-1141. 2002. American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA
- ^ Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F., Mittempergher L., Brunetti M., Crivellaro A., Macchioni N., Elm breeding for DED resistance, the Italian clones and their wood properties. [2] Invest Agrar: Sist. Recur. For. (2004) 13 (1), 179-184. 2004.
- ^ a b Brookes, A. H. (2006). An evaluation of disease-resistant hybrid and exotic elms as larval host plants for the White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album, Part 1. [3] Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, UK.
