Ulmus minor var plotii

Taxobox
status = LC
name = "Ulmus minor" var. "plotii"


image_caption = Silhouettes of var. Plotii. Adapted from RichensRichens, R. H. (1975). Elms and Motorways. "Motorways and the Biologist". Private publication]
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Ulmus"
species = "U. minor"
subspecies = "plotii"
trinomial = "Ulmus minor" var. "plotii"
trinomial_authority = Mill.
synonyms =
*"Ulmus campestris" Smith
*"Ulmus coritana" Melville
*"Ulmus glabra" var. "minor" Ley
*"Ulmus minor" Mill., Rchb.
*"Ulmus plotii" Druce
*"Ulmus sativa" (not Mill.) Moss
*"Ulmus sotica" Mill. var. "Lockii" Druce

"Ulmus minor" var. "plotii" Mill., known as Plot's Elm, Goodyer's Elm or Lock Elm, was first described by Goodyer in 1633. It is only found in England, where it is most commonly encountered in the Midlands, notably around the River Witham in Lincolnshire. As with other members of the Field Elm group, the taxonomy of this tree is a matter of contention, several authorities Coleman, M., Hollingsworth, M. L. and Hollingsworth, P. M. (2000). Application of RAPDs to the critical taxonomy of the English endemic elm Ulmus plotii Druce. "Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society" 133: 241-262.] ] Armstrong, J. V. & Sell, P. D. (1996). A revision of the British elms ("Ulmus" L., Ulmaceae): the historical background. "Bot. J. Linn. Soc." 120: 39-50.] Stace, C. A. (1997). "New Flora of the British Isles", 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press.] Melville, R. (1978). On the discrimination of species in hybrid swarms with special reference to "Ulmus" and the nomenclature of "U. minor" (Mill.) and "U. carpinifolia" (Gled.). "Taxon" 27: 345-351.] recognizing it as a species in its own right. Indeed, it is as "U. plotii" that the specimens held by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place are listed.

Description

'Plot's Elm' was a tree with a most distinctive habit. Before the advent of Dutch elm disease, this slender tree grew to a height of 30 m and was chiefly characterized by a crooked trunk curving near the summit, supporting a few short ascending branches to form a narrow, cocked crown; Richens Richens, R. H. (1968). The correct designation of the European field elms. "Feddes Repertorium" 79: 1-2.] likened its appearance to an ostrich feather. The obovate- to elliptic-acuminate leaves are small, rarely > 4 cm in length, with comparatively few marginal teeth, usually < 70. The upper surface is dull, with a scattering of minute tubercles and hairs. The samarae rarely ripen, but when mature are narrowly obovate, < 13 mm in length, with a triangular open notch Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). "The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland". Vol. VII. pp 1848-1929. Private publication. [http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/] ] White, J. & More, D. (2002). "Trees of Britain & Northern Europe". Cassell's, London.] .

Pests and diseases

Var. Plotii is very susceptible to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

Like other forms of the Field Elm, the tree suckers freely and is thus not considered endangered. However, owing to its susceptibility to Dutch elm disease, it is no longer planted. There are no known cultivars of this taxon, nor is it known to be available from any nurseries.

Etymology

The tree was named for Dr Robert Plot, 17th century English naturalist [http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/learning/pdfs/plot.pdf] . The origin of the synonym Lock Elm is obscure, however the synonym Goodyer's Elm can be traced to Goodyer's description of an elm found between Lymington and Christchurch, as published in Johnstone's edition of "Gerarde's Herball" 1478, (1633).

Hybrids & hybrid cultivars

*"Ulmus × elegantissima", a natural "U. glabra" × "U. minor" var. "plotii" hybrid led to the selection of the dwarf cultivar 'Jacqueline Hillier'.
*"Ulmus × viminalis", "U. minor" subsp. "minor" × "U. minor" var. "plotii": another natural crossing, England, 1677, resulting in the hybrid cultivars: 'Aurea', 'Marginata', 'Pulverulenta'.

Accessions

;North America
*Bartlett tree nurseries, acc. nos. 7771, 00-108, as "U. plotii", provenances not disclosed. ;Europe
*Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG, Elm Collection, no details available.
*Cambridge Botanic Garden [http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/] , University of Cambridge, UK, as "U. coritana" var. "angustifolia", no accession details available.
*Romney Gardens, Cumbria, UK. UK champion 28 m high, 87 cm d.b.h. (1996)Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). "Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland". Whittet Press, ISBN 9781873580615.] .
*Royal Botanic Garden, Wakehurst Place, UK, as "U. plotii", acc. no. 1912-59402, donated by Augustine Henry, acc. nos. 1975-6181, 1975-6195, 1977-6692, all collected by Melville.
*Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK, as "U. plotii", acc. no. 1969-16753, (planted 1958), donated by Melville.

References

External links

*http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/Networks/euforgen/Networks/Scattered_Broadleaves/NHStrategies/UlmusSppConsStrategy.htm.