Ulmus 'Urban'
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| Ulmus hybrid |
|---|
| Hybrid parentage |
| U. pumila × ('Commelin' × (U. pumila × 'Hoersholmiensis')) |
| Cultivar |
| 'Urban' |
| Origin |
| USA |
'Urban' is an American hybrid elm cultivar derived from the same ancestry as 'Homestead' and 'Regal', comprising the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila, the early Dutch hybrid 'Commelin', and a Danish field elm cultivar Ulmus minor 'Hoersholmiensis'. Selected from progeny of a controlled crossing made in 1958 by Toru Arisumi of the USDA at Columbus, Ohio, the tree is notable for its tolerance of poor soils, pollution, and drought, but is considered a poor ornamental, possessed of stiff branching and anomalous rounded form. It is resistant to Dutch elm disease, but vulnerable to elm leaf beetle.[1][2]
'Urban' was one of a number of elm hybrids assessed by the Forestry Commission in the UK in the 1970s; half a dozen trees were among a batch of elms donated by the Commission in 1981 to reinforce a shelter belt at the Royal Bath & West showground [1] south of Shepton Mallet [2]. All the trees initially grew strongly on the heavy clay loam, attaining over 8 m in height in seven years. However, at this age, one died of Dutch Elm Disease whilst all the other trees exhibited weakness at the root, and several fell in gales in later years.[3].
Other plantings in Europe are few and far between; several were established in the port area of Amsterdam [3]. The tree also featured in trials [4], in Canberra, Australia started in 1988 but "has not shown promise in that environment".
Contents |
[edit] Hybrid cultivars
'Urban' was crossed with the Wilson's Elm (now treated as Japanese Elm U. davidiana var. japonica) cultivar 'Prospector' to create the cultivar 'Patriot'.
[edit] Arboreta etc accessions
- North America
- Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, Illinois. 1 tree, in West Collections Area, listed as U. × hollandica 'Urban'.
- Morton Arboretum acc. no. 66-70
- Europe
- Brighton & Hove City Council, NCCPG elm collection [5].
- Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset. UK champion, 12 m high, 26 cm d.b.h. in 1997 [4].
[edit] Nurseries
- North America
[edit] Synonymy
- 'Delaware No. 1': USDA, before commercial release as 'Urban'.
- 'Ohio Hybrid': Santamour, F. S., & Bentz, S. E. Updated checklist of elm (Ulmus) cultivars for use in North America. Journal of Arboriculture, 21(3): May, 1995.
[edit] References
- ^ Bean, W. J. (1980). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 8th edition. Murray, UK.
- ^ Schreiber, L. R. & Main, H. V. (1976). HortScience, 11: 517-518, 1976
- ^ Rouse, G. D. (1989). Elms on the Royal Bath & West Showground. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 83. 170-172, 1989. Royal Forestry Society, Tring, Herts., UK
- ^ Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. Whittet Press, ISBN 9781873580615.
