Ulmus × hollandica 'Smithii'

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Ulmus × hollandica
Hybrid parentage
U. glabra × U. minor
Cultivar
'Smithii'
Origin
Europe

The Downton Elm, Ulmus × hollandica 'Smithii', was one of a number of cultivars arising from the crossing of the Wych Elm U. glabra with a variety of Field Elm U. minor. It originated as one of a batch of seedlings raised at Smith's Nursery, Worcester, England, from seeds obtained from a tree in Nottingham in 1810 and planted at Downton Castle[3] near Ludlow. It made a small tree < 10 m high, with ascending branches bearing long pendulous shoots. The oval leaves are dark green and glabrous above, < 8.5 cm long by 4.0 cm wide, long acuminate at the apex [1] [2]. The tree was grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and at the National Botanic Gardens [4], Glasnevin, Eire, before the First World War [3], but is not known to remain in cultivation.

Some Victorian writers confused 'Smithii' with U. glabra 'Horizontalis' because both featured weeping branches [4].

[edit] Synonymy

  • Ulmus campestris pendula: Masters Hort. Duroverni 66, 1831
  • Ulmus campestris 'Pendula': Krüssmann [5], Handb. Laubgeh. 2, p.53, 1831-32.
  • Ulmus montana var. Smithii Hort.: Kew
  • Ulmus pendula: Masters Hort. Duroverni 66, 1831 (not Willdenow)
  • Ulmus Smithii Henry: Elwes, H.J. & Henry, A. 1913. Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Private publication.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Green, P. S. (1964). Registration of cultivar names in Ulmus. Arnoldia, Vol. 24. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University. [1]
  2. ^ Hilliers' Manual of Trees & Shrubs. (1977). David & Charles, Newton Abbot, UK.
  3. ^ Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [2]
  4. ^ Hanham, F. (1857). A Manual for the Park (Royal Victoria Park, Bath). Longman, London.
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