Ulmus 'Fiorente'

Infobox Cultivar | name = "Ulmus" hybrid

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image_caption = 'Fiorente', Appenines, Italy
hybrid = "U. pumila" S.10 × "U. minor" C. 02
cultivar = 'Fiorente'
origin = IPP, Florence, Italy

'Fiorente' is an elm cultivar derived from a crossing of the Siberian Elm "Ulmus pumila" clone S.10 with "Ulmus minor" C.02 by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP) in Florence, Italy, and released for sale in 2007.

Description

'Fiorente' is monocormic, and of exceptionally rapid growth in a temperate climate. Mean growth during trials in the Northern Apennine on poor clay soils exceeded 1.0 m in height and 1.5 cm in trunk diameter per annum. The tree's habit is conical, with a pronounced apical dominance. The lateral growth on the current year's growth is very limited; the crown is therefore rather columnar. The alternate leaves are of a moderate size, < 8 cm long by < 5 cm broad. Generally lanceolate in shape, the leaves are rough on the upper surface and pubescent beneath; they remain green well into the autumn and are shed relatively late. The tree usually commences flowering in its fourth or fifth year; the sessile samarae are ovate, 14mm × 17 mm.

Pests and diseases

The tree has proven highly resistant to Dutch Elm Disease when inoculated with the "Ophiostoma" fungus Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F., Ghelardini L., & Mittempergher L., (2007). Fiorente and Arno elm trees. "HortScience" June 2007, Volume 42, Issue 3, pp 712 - 714. American Society for Horticultural Science, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. [http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/42/3/712] ] .

Cultivation

The cultivar's rapid growth suggests an economic importance as a hardwood timber tree. The tree was introduced to the UK by "Butterfly Conservation" in 2007, but is not known to have been planted elsewhere beyond Italy in Europe, and has not been introduced to North America or Australasia.

Etymology

'Fiorente' translates as 'flourishing'.

Accessions

Europe

*Great Fontley Farm, Fareham, UK, "Butterfly Conservation" Elm Trials plantation, Home Field. Two rooted cuttings, planted 2008.
*Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK.

Nurseries

Europe

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

References