Ulmus × hollandica 'Superba'
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| Ulmus × hollandica |
|---|
| Hybrid parentage |
| U. glabra × U. minor |
| Cultivar |
| 'Superba' |
| Origin |
| Europe |
Ulmus × hollandica 'Superba', once commonly known in the UK as the Canterbury Elm, is one of a number of hybrids arising from the crossing of the Wych Elm U. glabra with a variety of Field Elm U. minor. Identified by Morren as U. montana (: glabra) var. superba in Jour. Agric. Prat. Belg.: 411 1848 and much later by Krüssmann [3] in Handb. Laubgeh. 2: 537, 1962 as a cultivar [1]. Described as a rapidly-growing, narrow, pyramidal tree with smooth bark and steeply ascending branches, bearing large leaves very similar to the Wych Elm but with long stalks. The flowers too resemble those of the Wych Elm.
'Superba' was reputed by Louis Späth to have been much valued as a street tree, notably in Magdeburg, Germany. It was cultivated in the UK by Masters at Canterbury in the early 19th century, where it became known as Master's Canterbury Seedling or simply the Canterbury Elm, and later, confusingly, as U. montana (: glabra) 'Major' [2].
'Superba' was reintroduced to the UK at Kew Gardens in 1900, obtained from the Späth nursery in Berlin, and remains represented by a specimen at Wakehurst Place donated in 1949. A tree of the name was photographed at the Ellwanger and Barry nursery at Mount Hope, Rochester, New York, circa 1900, but this tree appears most unlike the Canterbury Elm, indeed the photograph is also marked 'Belgian Elm' which it resembles more closely.
NB. 'Superba' was also the name given by Lavallée, in Arb. Segrez. 237, 1877 to the Wych Elm cultivar later known as 'Cornuta' [1].
Contents |
[edit] Arboreta etc. accessions
- Europe
- Royal Botanic Garden Wakehurst Place acc. no. 1949-42304
