Ulmus 'Australis'

Ulmus 'Australis' is a little-known tree considered by various authorities to have been a variety of Ulmus procera, Ulmus glabra, Ulmus minor, or even Ulmus × hollandica.

Description

The tree is distinguished by its conspicuously and numerously veined leathery leaves.^[1] Reputedly endemic to south-eastern France, Switzerland and Italy, it was treated as U. montana (: glabra) var. australis Hort. by Loudon, who described it as having "rather small leaves and a more pendulous habit".^[2]

Cultivation

'Australis' is not known to survive in cultivation. Augustine Henry described lines of the trees along the Cours-la-Reine in Rouen planted in 1649 by the Duc de Longueville; several of which were still alive in 1912, having attained a height of about 28 m. Henry also mentions specimens growing in botanical gardens at Le Mans and Bordeaux, and others growing as far south as Spizza (now Sutomore) in Dalmatia (Montenegro).^[3]

Synonymy

• Ulmus campestris (: procera Salisb.) var. australis: Henry, in Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. pp 1848–1929.
• Ulmus × hollandica 'Australis': Hilliers' Manual of Trees & Shrubs, ed. 4, p. 400, 1977, name in synonymy.
• Ulmus minor 'Italica': Hilliers' Manual of Trees & Shrubs, ed. 4, p. 400, 1977, name in synonymy.
• Ulmus montana (: glabra) var. australis Hort.: Loudon, Arb. Frut. Brit. 3: 1398 1838.

References