The hybrid elm cultivar ''Ulmus × hollandica'' 'Modiolina', or Wheel-hub elm, was probably the large-leaved 'Orme tortillard' first described by Duhamel in ''De l'exploitation des bois'' (1764). Poederlé (1774) identified the tree as the 'orme maigre' growing in the region that later became part of Belgium. Dumont de Courset described a small-leaved ''U. campestris'' var. ''modiolina'', "l'orme tortillard" (:twisty elm) in 1802 – the first use of the name 'Modiolina'. 'L'orme Tortillard', also known as 'l'orme à moyeux' (: 'wheel-hub elm'), was considered in France to be the best elm for use by wheelwrights, its timber especially suitable for hubs of wheels. Van Houtte marketed an ''U. campestris modiolina (tortuosa)'', and Späth an ''U. campestris modiolina'', from the late 19th century. ''U. campestris'' var. ''modiolina'' Hort was confirmed as a

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...

by Chevalier in ''Les Ormes de France'' (1942) and called ''U.'' × 'Modiolina', 'l'orme à moyeux'. Herbarium specimens sometimes treat 'Modiolina' and 'Tortuosa' as synonymous. Browne (1851) and Elwes and Henry (1913) regarded 'Modiolina' as synonymous with Loddiges' and Loudon's ''U. tortuosa'' but not with ''U. tortuosa'' (Host). The Baudriller nursery of Angers distributed 'Modiolina' and 'Tortuosa' as separate cultivars.

Description

Descriptions vary, confirming more than one 'Modiolina' clone, as Chevalier pointed out (1942). Duhamel's 'Tortillard' (1764) was a knotty elm with many 'bosses' and with largish leaves. Dumont de Courset's 'Modiolina' (1802) was said to have a pyramidal form, crowded and twisted branches, and small leaves. Browne's (1851) 'Modiolina' (1851) produced few seeds, and in some years none at all. Chevalier's hybrid 'Modiolina' (1942), which he equated with the ''U. campestris modiolina'' of the nurseries, was said to resemble English Elm in form, in height, and to have doubly serrate smooth leaves of a dull green measuring up to × wide with a petiole of . Specimens obtained by Swingle in France and sent to the United States in 1898 were described as having "large" leaves.

Pests and diseases

'Modiolina' is not known to have any resistance to Dutch elm disease.

Etymology

'Modiolina' comes from the Latin ''modiolus'', the nave of a wheel (see Cultivation).

Cultivation

Duhamel reported that "l'orme Tortillard" 'has the most useful wood of all the elms', adding that it is 'easily raised from seed, grafts, or layers'. 'Modiolina' was once particularly abundant along the road from Paris to Meaux. A single, century-old specimen stood in the Allée des Ormes elm avenuein the Jardin des plantes, Paris, in the mid-20th century. ''Ulmus modiolina'', the 'twisted or tortillard elm', was marketed by Prince's nursery of Flushing, New York from the 1820s. Specimens of "large-leaved" 'Modiolina' obtained by Swingle in France were sent to the United States in 1898. A 'Modiolina' grown at Kew and for a time labelled as a wych elm cultivar was identified as ''Ulmus × hollandica'' by Ronald Melville. One tree was planted in 1899 at the

Dominion Arboretum The Dominion Arboretum (french: Arboretum du Dominion) is an arboretum part of the Central Experimental Farm of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Originally begun in 1889, the Arboretum covers about of rolling land ...

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

, Canada. A specimen of ''U. campestris modiolina'', obtained from Späth before 1914 and planted in 1916, stood in the

Ryston Hall Ryston Hall, Ryston, Norfolk, England is a 17th-century country house built by Sir Roger Pratt for himself. The house was constructed between 1669 and 1672 in the Carolean style. In the late 18th century, John Soane made alterations to the hous ...

arboretum, Norfolk,rystonhall.co.uk/
/ref> in the early 20th century. No specimens are known to survive. For the putative 'Modiolina' in Edinburgh (2018), see 'Tortuosa'.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ulmus x hollandica 'Modiolina' Dutch elm cultivar Ulmus articles missing images Ulmus Missing elm cultivars