Ulmus × Hollandica 'Viminalis'

The hybrid elm cultivar ''Ulmus × hollandica'' 'Viminalis' osier-leavedwas listed by the Späth nursery of Berlin as ''Ulmus scabra'' Mill. var. ''viminalis'' in 1890 and as ''Ulmus montana viminalis'' from 1892. Though Späth's catalogues stated that it was "also distributed under the name ''planera aquatica''" (an American species little known in Europe), it remained in his lists under 'elm' and was accessioned by the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, and by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as an elm cultivar. A similar misidentification occurred in the mid-20th century, when the Siberian elm cultivar ''Ulmus pumila'' 'Poort Bulten' was for many years commercially propagated under the name '' Planera aquatica'' or 'water elm'. As the leaves of osier or ''Salix viminalis'', however, differ markedly from those of ''Planera aquatica'', being long, thin and tapering at both ends, Spath's name 'Viminalis' for this elm cultivar confirms that its leaves were not ''Planera''-like. The probable explanation for the early distribution name is that ''Planera'' was the old name for '' Zelkova'', a close relative of elm with willow-like leaves. It is therefore unlikely that 'Viminalis' was related in any way to the 19th-century elm cultivar ''Ulmus'' 'Planeroides'.

Not to be confused with Loudon's ''U. minor'' 'Viminalis'.

Description

The tree was said to have "small pendulous leaves", a description which suggests an ''Ulmus × hollandica'' rather than a wych elm cultivar (Späth used ''U. montana'' for both). Beissner noted ''U. montana viminalis'' at the Tübingen botanical gardens, falsely named ''Planera aquatica'', which had 'picturesque long overhanging young branches'.

Pests and diseases

Some examples of ''U.'' × ''hollandica'' possess a moderate resistance to Dutch elm disease.

Cultivation

One specimen of Späth's ''U. montana viminalis'' was planted at the Dominion Arboretum, Ottawa, in 1896. Three specimens were supplied by Späth to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 1902, and may survive in Edinburgh as it was the practice of the Garden to distribute trees about the city (viz. the Wentworth Elm); the current list of Living Accessions held in the Garden ''per se'' does not list the plant.

Putative specimens

Three old osier-leaved elms which stand in Buckingham Terrace Gardens, on Leith Links (Vanburgh Place), and in Middle Meadows Walk, Edinburgh (2017), may be Späth's 'Viminalis'. They are semi-pendulous suckering trees, girth c.3.5 m, with leaves and samarae confirmed by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as likely to be ''U.'' × ''hollandica''. Unnamed ''U.'' × ''hollandica'' cultivar; Herb. Lugd. Bat., Germany

File:Unknown Ulmus, Vanburgh Place, Edinburgh (3).jpg, Osier-leaved clone, Leith Links, Edinburgh
File:Unknown Ulmus, Vanburgh Place, Edinburgh (4).jpg, Bark of same
File:Unknown Ulmus, Vanburgh Place, Edinburgh (2).jpg, Leaves of same
File:AZ0082 Ulmus. Vanburgh Place, Edinburgh.jpg, Pressed leaves (juvenile foliage on right)
File:AZ0004 Ulmus x hollandica. Edinburgh, Buckingham Terrace. Samarae and new leaves.jpg, Samarae and new leaves of osier-leaved clone, Buckingham Terrace Gardens, Edinburgh

Synonymy

*''U. scabra'' Mill. var. ''viminalis'' ("also called ''Planera acquatica''")Späth, L., Catalogue 79 (1890-91; Berlin), p.115, p.131
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulmus x hollandica 'Viminalis'
Dutch elm cultivar
Ulmus articles missing images
Ulmus
Ulmus Edinburgh Spath 1902