Ulmus 'Clusius'

Ulmus 'Clusius' is a Dutch hybrid elm cultivar raised at the Dorschkamp Research Institute for Forestry & Landscape Planning, Wageningen, as clone 568^[1] and released to commerce in 1983. 'Clusius' was derived from a crossing of the same Dutch clones that produced the fastigiate 'Lobel' released in 1973: '202' ('Exoniensis' × U. wallichiana) and '336' ('Bea Schwarz' selfed).

Ulmus 'Clusius'
Ulmus 'Clusius', Netherlands.
Genus	Ulmus
Hybrid parentage	('Exoniensis' × U. wallichiana) × 'Bea Schwarz' selfed
Cultivar	'Clusius'
Origin	Wageningen, The Netherlands

Description

The tree has a broader crown than its sibling's, whilst the generally obovate leaves, < 11 cm long by 7 cm wide, are less acuminate at the apex and a lighter green. The seed is near the notch (apex) of the samara.^[1][2] Like 'Lobel', the tree flushes markedly later than most other elms, and is rarely in full leaf before mid-May.

Pests and diseases

Whilst the resistance of 'Clusius' to Dutch elm disease proved marginally greater than that of its Dutch predecessors, rated 4 out of 5,^[3] it has been eclipsed by later developments such as Lutèce. Consequently, sales in the Netherlands declined from over 8,000 in 1979 to 600 in 2004.^[4]

Cultivation

While 'Clusius' remains for sale in Europe, its planting where the disease remains prevalent cannot be recommended.^[5] In the UK, 'Clusius' is present in the National Elm Collection, Brighton and Hove,^[6] and in Edinburgh (two in Abbeyhill, opposite Holyrood Palace,^[7] and one in The Meadows^[8]). Six specimens were planted in front of the library, Keele University, Staffordshire, c.2010.^[9][10] 'Clusius' featured in New Zealand government trials during the 1990s at the Hortresearch station, Palmerston North, but is not known to have been introduced to North America.

• 
  Six 'Clusius' in Union Square, Keele University (2015)
• 
  Same, 2018

Etymology

The cultivar is named for Carolus Clusius, a Dutch naturalist of the Renaissance.

Accessions

Europe

• Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie , Monthodon, France. No details available
• Grange Farm Arboretum, Sutton St James, Spalding, Lincs., UK. Acc. no. 817.
• Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire, UK. Acc. no: 2019.0441
• Wijdemeren City Council, Netherlands. Elm Collection. planted mainly in Kortenhoef since 2006.

Nurseries

• Noordplant , Glimmen, Netherlands.
• Barcham Trees PLC, Ely, Cambridgeshire.

References

1. Heybroek, Hans M. (1983). Burdekin, D.A. (ed.). "Resistant elms for Europe" (PDF). Forestry Commission Bulletin (Research on Dutch Elm Disease in Europe) (60). London: HMSO: 108–113.
2. Heybroek, H.M. (1993). "The Dutch Elm Breeding Program". In Sticklen, Mariam B.; Sherald, James L. (eds.). Dutch Elm Disease Research. New York, USA: Springer-Verlag. pp. 16–25. ISBN 978-1-4615-6874-2. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
3. 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 978-90-5011-281-9
4. Hiemstra, J.A.; et al. (2007). Belang en toekomst van de iep in Nederland [Importance and future of the elm in the Netherlands]. Wageningen, Netherlands: Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving B.V. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
5. Burdekin, D.A.; Rushforth, K.D. (November 1996). "Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease" (PDF). Arboriculture Research Note. 2/96. Revised by J.F. Webber. Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham: Arboricultural Advisory & Information Service: 1–9. ISSN 1362-5128. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
6. List of plants in the elm collection, Brighton and Hove; brighton-hove.gov.uk
7. Two 'Clusius', Abbeyhill, Edinburgh - Google Maps, December 2019, access date: 25 July 2024
8. 'Clusius', Melville Drive, The Meadows, Edinburgh - Google Maps, August 2020, access date: 29 July 2024
9. 'New Trees in Union Square', keele.ac.uk
10. 'Clusius' between library and Union Square, Keele University, Staffordshire