Ulmus 'Plinio'

Infobox Cultivar | name = "Ulmus" hybrid

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image_caption = 'Plinio', Italy. Photo: Alberto Santini, IPP
hybrid = '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.

Description

'Plinio' is a well-rounded tree with a broad crown, the width typically equalling 70% of height, and a short, often bent, trunk. The dark-green leaves are up to 65 mm long by 30 mm broad and glabrous on both sides, on < 6 mm petioles Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F. & Mittempergher L., (2002) 'San Zanobi' and 'Plinio' elm trees. [http://www.cnr.it/istituti/ArticoliJCR.html?cds=064&id=3107] "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. [http://www.inia.es/gcontrec/pub/179-184-(15)-Elm_breeding_1161943564468.pdf] "Invest Agrar: Sist. Recur. For." (2004) 13 (1), 179-184. 2004.] . 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 sessile samarae are round, and range from 17 mm to 22 mm in diameter. Seed has exhibited a modest viability of between 10% and 20%. 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." [http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/conservation.html#Elm%20Report] Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, UK. ] .

Pests and diseases

'Plinio' is highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease. Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F. & Mittempergher L., (2002) 'San Zanobi' and 'Plinio' elm trees. [http://www.cnr.it/istituti/ArticoliJCR.html?cds=064&id=3107] "HortScience" 37(7): 1139-1141. 2002. American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA ] .

Cultivation

Fast growing (though slower than its sibling 'San Zanobi') in Italy, where it commences flowering in its third year.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 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." [http://www.hantsiow-butterflies.org.uk/conservation.html#Elm%20Report] Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, UK. ] . 'Plinio' is not known to have been introduced to North America or Australasia.

Etymology

'Plinio' is named for the early Roman scientist Pliny the Elder (Plinio in Italian).

Accessions

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

Nurseries

Europe

*UmbraFlor [http://www.umbraflor.it] , Spello, Italy

References