Ulmus 'Plantyn'

Ulmus hybrid
'Plantyn', Amsterdam. Photo: Ronnie Nijboer
Hybrid parentage	('Exoniensis' × U. wallichiana) × (U. minor '1' × U. minor '28')
Cultivar	'Plantyn'
Origin	Wageningen, The Netherlands

Ulmus 'Plantyn' (Anglicized form of 'Plantijn') was one of three Dutch hybrid elms released in 1973. Derived from a crossing of the Dutch hybrids '202' (U. 'Exoniensis' × U. wallichiana) and '302' (U. minor '1' × U. minor '28'), it was to prove of great significance in later developments.^[1][2] A selfed seedling was to become the first Dutch clone to prove effectively immune to disease, released in 1989 as 'Columella'. 'Plantyn' was also destined to be the female parent of Lutèce released in 2002.^[3] In Italy, 'Plantyn' was used in hybridizations with the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP), to create three new cultivars released to commerce (see Hybrid cultivars).

Description

'Plantyn' is a fast-growing tree, with upright branching forming a broad crown where grown in isolation. The dark-green leaves are < 10 cm long by 7 cm broad, on < 10 mm petioles.

Pests and diseases

'Plantyn' is no more resistant to Dutch elm disease than its Dutch contemporaries 'Dodoens' and 'Lobel' according to one source, rating 4 out of 5.^[4] However, research published in France by the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) indicated that 'Plantyn' possesses a greater degree of disease resistance than the other two cultivars, although neither had actually been tested by the organization. Nevertheless, INRA still classified 'Plantyn' as only 'moderately resistant'.^[5]

Cultivation

Largely superseded by the later generation of cultivars highly resistant to Dutch elm disease, sales in the Netherlands declined from over 7,000 in 1979 to zero in 2004 ^[6] . Like its Dutch contemporaries, 'Plantyn' has proven very tolerant of sea winds.^[7]

'Plantyn' was not commercially released in the USA, but was evaluated at the Iowa State University (acc. no. Q 28835) ^[8] however it is no longer listed (2013) in the NPGS inventory. 'Plantyn' was also included in trials in Canberra, Australia, started in 1988, although it is reputed not to have thrived in that environment.

Notable trees

The TROBI UK champion is at West Park, Wolverhampton, which had attained a height of 17 m and a d.b.h. of 54 cm by 2004. Another grows in Kensington Gardens, London, which was 16 m high, 45 cm d.b.h. in 2001.^[9]

Cultivars

• 'Columella'
• Unreleased cultivars raised by IPP, Florence: 'FL 580' (Heybroek's '948')

Hybrid cultivars

• 'Arno', 'Nanguen' = LUTÈCE, 'Plinio', 'San Zanobi', 'Wanoux' = VADA
• Unreleased cultivars raised by IPP, Florence: 'FL 568' (U. pumila × 'Plantyn'), 'FL 620' & 'FL 624' ((U. pumila × U. minor) × 'Plantyn'), 'FL 688' (('Plantyn' × U. minor) × 'Plantyn')

Etymology

The tree is named for the French printer and humanist Christoffel Plantijn (France: Christophe Plantin).

Synonymy

'Plantijn' (original Dutch form of the name).

The tag on the specimen at Kew Gardens reads 'Plantion'.

Accessions

Europe

• Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie , Monthodon, France. No details available
• Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection
• Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St James, Spalding, Lincolnshire, UK. Acc. no. 1089.
• Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Acc. no. 1980–731
• Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK. Acc. no. 1982.4057
• Westonbirt Arboretum , Tetbury, Glos., UK. Planted 1981; acc. no. 1980/157.
• Wijdemeren City Council, Netherlands, Elm collection. Planted mainly Kastanjelaan and Tjalk in Loosdrecht.

References

1. Heybroek, H. M. (1976). Ned. Bosbouw. Tijdschr. 48: 117–23, 1976.
2. Heybroek, H. M. (1983). Resistant Elms for Europe. In Burdekin, D. A. (Ed.) Research on Dutch elm disease in Europe. For. Comm. Bull. 60. 108–113.
3. Heybroek, H. M. (1993). The Dutch Elm Breeding Program. In Sticklen & Sherald (Eds.) (1993). Dutch Elm Disease Research, Chapter 3. Springer Verlag, New York, USA.
4. Heybroek, H. M., Goudzwaard, L, Kaljee, H. (2009). Iep of olm, karakterboom van de Lage Landen (:Elm, a tree with character of the Low Countries). KNNV, Uitgeverij. ISBN 9789050112819
5. Pinon, J. 2007). Les ormes résistants à la graphiose (:Elms resistant to Dutch Elm Disease). Forêt-entreprise, No. 175 - Juillet 2007, 37-41, IDF, Paris, France. http://www.foretpriveefrancaise.com/data/info/127219-P.pdf
6. Hiemstra, J. A. et al. (2007)Belang en toekomst van de iep in Nederland. Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving, Wageningen UR, Netherlands.
7. Burdekin, D. A. & Rushforth, K. D. (Revised by Webber J. F. 1996). Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Arboricultural Research Note 2/96. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Alice Holt, Farnham, UK.
8. Gibbs, J. N., Brasier, C. M., McNabb Jnr., H.S., and Heybroek, H. M. (1975). Further studies on the pathenogenicity in Ceratocystis ulmi. Europ. Journ. Forest. Path. 5 (3): 161–174.
9. Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. Whittet Press, ISBN 978-1-873580-61-5.