Ulmus 'Crispa' Explained

Ulmus 'Crispa'
Genus:Ulmus
Cultivar:'Crispa'
Origin:Europe

The elm cultivar Ulmus 'Crispa' [:'curled', the leaf margin], sometimes known as the Fernleaf Elm, arose before 1800[1] and was first listed by Willdenow as U. crispa (1809).[2] Audibert listed an U. campestris Linn. 'Crispa', orme à feuilles crépues [:'frizzy-leaved elm'], in 1817,[3] and an Ulmus urticaefolia [:'nettle-leaved elm'] in 1832;[4] the latter is usually taken to be a synonym. Loudon considered the tree a variety of U. montana (1838).[5] In the 19th century, Ulmus × hollandica cultivars, as well as those of Wych Elm, were often grouped under Ulmus montana.[6] Elwes and Henry (1913) listed 'Crispa' as a form of wych elm, but made no mention of the non-wych samara (see 'Description').[7]

Hanham (1857) noted that in his day concave-leaved Field Elm, U. campestris concavaefolia, was frequently mistaken for and sold as 'Crispa' in nurseries, "though there is a wide difference between them".[8] The Louis van Houtte nursery used the synonym Ulmus campestris adiantifolia[9] for 'Crispa', and Ulmus campestris crispa for the cultivar 'Webbiana'.[10] The Baudriller nursery of Angers went one step further, listing Ulmus campestris adiantifolia, orme à feuilles de capillaire [:'downy-leaved elm'], separately from both Ulmus campestris crispa, orme à feuilles crispées [:'wrinkled leaved elm'] and Ulmus campestris webbiana, orme de Webb.[11]

Koch, noting similarities between 'Crispa' and Ulmus montana rugosa, conjectured (1872) that the latter cultivar, which has "similar but less frizzy leaves", may have arisen from the former.[12]

Description

'Crispa' is a slow-growing tree with pendulous branches bearing narrow, linear to oblanceolate leaves up to 9 cm long by 3.5 cm broad, distinctively wrinkled and with numerous incised curved teeth.[13] [14] [15] [16] Hanham (1857), concurring with Loudon (1838), described it as "generally of a slender and stunted habit of growth",[8] and Henry (1913) as a small tree;[17] mature specimens in Sweden, however, have attained a height comparable to the type.[18] The seed is near the apex (margin) of the samara,[19] confirmed from specimens in The Netherlands[20] [21] – a diagnostic feature which points to hybridity. The petiole is variable – short on thick twigs, but longer and unwych-like on more slender twigs.[20] [22] [23] Arnold Arboretum, Massachusetts, described their specimen of 'Crispa' (1915) as "more curious than beautiful".[24]

Pests and diseases

'Crispa' is susceptible to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

'Crispa' was once to be found in collections in Britain, including Kew,[7] the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh,[25] and the Royal Victoria Park, Bath.[8] A specimen obtained from Späth as U. montana crispa and planted in 1916, stood in the Ryston Hall arboretum, Norfolk,[26] in the early 20th century.[27] The tree was propagated and marketed in the UK by the Hillier & Sons nursery, Winchester, Hampshire, from 1945, with just 12 sold in the period 1962 to 1977, when production ceased.[28] [29] Only one mature tree is now known to survive in the UK, at the Rosemoor Garden in Devon.

Specimens survive in Sweden (see 'Notable trees') and Latvia. As 'Crispa' was marketed in Poland in the 19th century by the Ulrich nursery,[30] Warsaw, and by the Späth nursery of Berlin,[31] other specimens may survive elsewhere in Eastern Europe. The Hesse Nursery of Weener, Germany, distributed the tree as U. campestris urticifolia Hort. in the 1930s.[32] The tree remains in cultivation in Europe (see 'Nurseries').

The tree was introduced to the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, Canada in 1896 as U. montana crispa (syn. U. campestris urticaefolia).[33] Ulmus crispa was distributed by Hovey's nursery of Boston, Massachusetts from the 1850s.[34] 'Crispa' appeared as U. urticifolia, 'Nettle-leaved elm' with "undulating leaves", in Kelsey's 1904 catalogue, New York.[35] It was listed by nurseries in Australia in the early 20th century, but there are no records of any survivors there.[36]

Notable trees

Large specimens survive in Sweden, in Krusenburg near Uppsala, and in Stockholm (Hantverkargatan and two in Serafimerparken) (2017).[37] [38]

Varieties

Synonymy

Accessions

Europe

Nurseries

Notes and References

  1. Krüssmann, Gerd, Manual of Cultivated Broad-Leaved Trees & Shrubs (1984 vol. 3)
  2. Book: Willdenow, Carl Ludwig. Enumeratio plantarum horti regii botanici Berolinensis. Carl Ludwig Willdenow. 1809. 295.
  3. Audibert, U., Catalogue des végétaux de tous genres cultivés dans les jardins et pépinières à Tonelle (Tarascon, France, 1817) p.23 catalogue of 1817
  4. Book: Catalogue des arbres, arbrisseaux, arbustes et plantes. Frères Audibert. 53. Tonelle, France. 1832.
  5. Book: Loudon, John Claudius. 3. 1838 . Arboretum et fruticetum Britannicum. 1399.
  6. Späth, L., Baumschulenweg Katalog (1903), p.131
  7. Book: Elwes. Henry John. Henry John Elwes. Henry. Augustine. Augustine Henry. 1913. The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. 7. 1869.
  8. Hanham, F. (1857). A Manual for the Park (Royal Victoria Park, Bath). Longman, London.
  9. Sheet labelled Ulmus scabra var. adiantifolia
  10. https://archive.org/stream/vHoutte195Arbr#page/n47/mode/2up Cultures de Louis van Houtte: Plantes Vivaces de Pleine Terre
  11. Book: Baudriller Établissement d'Horticulture . Catalogue général descriptif et raisonné des arbres fruitiers, forestiers & d'ornement cultivés dans l'établissement . 1880 . Angers . 116 .
  12. 2. Koch. Karl. 1872. Dendrologie; Bäume, Sträucher und Halbsträucher, welche in Mittel- und Nord- Europa im Freien kultivirt werden. Nature. 44. 351–352. 10.1038/002351a0. 1870Natur...2..351O. 12003546.
  13. Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London.
  14. Green . Peter Shaw . Peter Shaw Green . 1964 . Registration of cultivar names in Ulmus. Arnoldia . 24. 41–80 . 6–8 . . 16 February 2017.
  15. http://www.botanicalcollections.be/specimen/BR0000026205151V "Herbarium specimen BR0000026205151V"
  16. Ayrshire specimen in RBGE archive (1947)
  17. Elwes, H. J. & Henry, A. (1913). The Trees of Great Britain & Ireland. Vol. VII.  p.1867. Private publication, Edinburgh. http://fax.libs.uga.edu/QK488xE4/7tgbi/
  18. tradgardsakademin.se/aktuella-uppdateringar/ulmus-glabra-crispa-rynkalm
  19. Labelled U. urticaefolia (1925)
  20. Sheet labelled Ulmus crispa, Amsterdam specimen (1859); samarae and leaves
  21. Sheet labelled Ulmus crispa, Amsterdam specimen; samarae and leaves
    • Ayrshire specimen in RBGE archive (1947)
    • Kew specimen (1881)
  24. https://archive.org/details/bulletinofpopula1191arno/page/54 Arnold Arboretum Bulletin of Popular Information, Vol.1 N.S., No.14, July 1915, p.55
  25. Krüssman, Gerd, Manual of Cultivated Broad-Leaved Trees & Shrubs (1984 vol. 3); photo of RBGE 'Crispa'
  26. http://www.rystonhall.co.uk/ rystonhall.co.uk/
  27. Book: Ryston Hall Arboretum catalogue . c. 1920 . 13–14.
  28. Hillier & Sons (1977). Catalogue of Trees & Shrubs. Hillier, Ampfield, UK.
  29. Hillier & Sons Sales inventory 1962 to 1977 (unpublished).
  30. Ulrich, C. (1894), Katalog Drzew i Krezewow, C. Ulrich, Rok 1893 - 94, Warszawa
  31. Book: 1902–1903. Katalog. L. Späth Baumschulenweg. Berlin, Germany. 108. 132–133.
  32. Book: Hesse. Hermann Albert. Preis- und Sortenliste. 1933. 91–92. 27 February 2018.
  33. Book: Saunders. William. Macoun. William Tyrrell. Catalogue of the trees and shrubs in the arboretum and botanic gardens at the central experimental farm. 1899. 2. 74–75. Ottawa .
  34. https://archive.org/details/catalogueofornam1855hove/page/4 Hovey & Co., Boston, Mass., Catalogue of ornamental trees & shrubs, evergreens and climbing plants, 1855, p.5
  35. Book: General catalogue, 1904 : choice hardy trees, shrubs, evergreens, roses, herbaceous plants, fruits, etc.. Frederick W. Kelsey. 1904. New York. 18.
  36. Spencer, R., Hawker, J. and Lumley, P. (1991). Elms in Australia. Australia: Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. .
  37. Photographs of mature specimen of U. 'Crispa' in Krusenburg near Uppsala, from tradgardsakademin.se, 'Crispa' (right) in Serafimerparken, Stockholm https://web.archive.org/web/20110616084753/http://www.tradgardsakademin.se/aktuella-uppdateringar/ulmus-glabra-crispa-rynkalm http://www.tradgardsakademin.se/aktuella-uppdateringar/ulmus-glabra-crispa-rynkalm
  38. Web site: 'Crispa', Serafimerparken, Stockholm . Google Maps . July 2017. 2018-05-12 .
  39. http://kiki.huh.harvard.edu/databases/botanist_search.php?id=2793 kiki.huh.harvard.edu
  40. http://kiki.huh.harvard.edu/databases/botanist_search.php?id=2792 kiki.huh.harvard.edu
  41. https://archive.org/stream/arboretummuscav01kircgoog#page/n582/mode/1up Arboretum Muscaviense 566 (1864)
  42. Book: Baudriller Établissement d'Horticulture . Catalogue général descriptif et raisonné des arbres fruitiers, forestiers & d'ornement cultivés dans l'établissement . 1880 . Angers . 116 .
  43. 'Standard Ornamental Trees' in Forest, hardy ornamental trees, conifers, etc., Richard Smith & Co., Worcester, 1887–88, p.27
  44. https://archive.org/stream/gardenersassista02thom#page/324/mode/2up Robert Thompson & William Watson, The Gardener's Assistant (London 1901), p.324
  45. Bean, W. J. (1936) Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition, Murray, London, vol. 2, p.616
  46. https://wijdemeren.cobra360.nl/index.php?@iepen Netherlands Plant Collection: Iepen, Ulmus
  47. Centrum voor Botanische Verrijking vzw: Voorraadlijst, accessdate: November 2, 2016

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