Ulmus 'San Zanobi'
| Ulmus hybrid | |
|---|---|
 'San Zanobi', Sir Harold Hillier Gardens | |
| Hybrid parentage | 'Plantyn' × U. pumila 'S 15' |
| Cultivar | 'San Zanobi' |
| Origin | IPP, Florence, Italy |
Ulmus 'San Zanobi' is a hybrid elm cultivar raised by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante (IPP) in Florence, from a crossing of the Dutch hybrid 'Plantyn' (female parent) and the Siberian Elm Ulmus pumila clone 'S 15'; it was released to commerce in 2002.
Description
'San Zanobi' is a fastigiate, often monopodial tree with upright branching bearing with glabrous, bright green leaves < 15 cm long × < 6 cm broad.[1][2] Like its compatriot 'Plinio', the tree lacks striking autumn colours, the leaves remaining green almost until they fall in late November. [3] In Italy, 'San Zanobi' begins flowering in its fifth year (sixth in the UK), and can begin suckering from roots at about the same age. The perfect, apetalous wind-pollinated flowers appear in mid March in the UK. The sessile samarae are ovate, 15 × 18 mm.[1]
Pests and diseases
'San Zanobi' has a high resistance to Dutch Elm Disease, and no losses to the disease have been observed. In trials conducted by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, 'San Zanobi' sustained 19.5% defoliation and 8.5% dieback when inoculated with unnaturally high concentrations of the fungal pathogen, compared with 50% / 35.5% resp. for 'Lobel', and 95% / 100% for 'CNR118', a field elm (Ulmus minor) native to Italy.[1]
Cultivation
'San Zanobi' has been widely planted across Italy, mostly in towns and cities, notably Rome in and around the Villa Medici. Introduced to the UK by Butterfly Conservation in 2003, it is being evaluated at several sites in Hampshire, where it has proven fast growing, increasing in height by up to 0.87 m and 1.45 cm stem diameter per annum. However, it has been found to be intolerant of soils waterlogged over winter. [4]
'San Zanobi' is not known to have been introduced to North America or Australasia.
Etymology
The cultivar is named after Saint Zenobius (San Zanobi in Italian), a saint noted for many miracles. After his death in AD 417, his body, whilst being carried from the cathedral for burial, is supposed to have glanced a dead elm, restoring the tree to life.
Accessions
- Europe
- Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St James, Spalding, Lincs. UK. Acc. no. 694.
- Great Fontley Farm, Fareham, UK, Butterfly Conservation Elm Trials plantation, Home Field. Two whips planted 2004.
- Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, UK. Acc. nos. 20090116, 20090402.
- Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, UK. One specimen in Plant Centre Field. Acc. no. 2004.0440.
Nurseries
- Europe
References
- 1 2 3 Santini A., Fagnani A., Ferrini F. & Mittempergher L., (2002) San Zanobi and Plinio elm trees. 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. (2004). Elm breeding for DED resistance, the Italian clones and their wood properties. Invest Agrar: Sist. Recur. For. (2004) 13 (1), 179–184. 2004.
- ↑ Brookes, A. H. (2015). Disease-resistant elms, Butterfly Conservation trials report, 2015 Butterfly Conservation, Hants & IoW Branch, England.
- ↑ Brookes, A. H. (2015). Great Fontley Elm Trial, 2015 Report. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England.