Zelkova × verschaffeltii

Infobox Cultivar | name = "Zelkova × verschaffeltii" (Dippel) G.Nicholson
hybrid = "Z. carpinifolia" × "Z. serrata"
origin = Unknown

"Zelkova × verschaffeltii" (Cut-leaf Zelkova) is a zelkova cultivar of hybrid origin. It was originally described in 1892 by Leopold Dippel from a cultivated plant as "Zelkova japonica" var. "verschaffeltii", suggesting an eastern Asian origin for it. In 1896, George Nicholson raised it to species rank as "Zelkova verschaffeltii", while its much closer similarity to "Zelkova carpinifolia" led Augustine Henry to suggest it might be a hybrid between "Zelkova carpinifolia" and "Zelkova abelicea".Bean, W. J. (1980). "Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles" 8th ed., vol. 4. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-2428-8.] More recent authors most widely regarded it as a cultivar, either not ascribed to any "Zelkova" species in particular, or placed under "Z. carpinifolia" with no suggestion of hybrid origin.Czerepanov, S. (1957). Revisio specierum generum Zelkova Spach et Hemiptelea Planchon. "Bot. Material" 18: 58-72.] Analysis of flavonoids has subsequently proved that it is a hybrid between "Zelkova carpinifolia" and "Zelkova serrata".Santamour, F. S. (1983). Flavonoid distribution in Zelkova. "J. Arboriculture" 9 (7): 190-192.]

First found in cultivation in the van Houtte nursery at Ghent in Belgium before 1885, it is a large shrub or small, bushy-crowned tree up to 15 m tall with mottled grey and brown bark and graceful habit. The leaves are narrow, 3.5–8 cm long and 1.3–6.6 cm broad, deeply incised with between five and ten pairs of triangular teeth. The fruit is rarely produced, a small two-lobed dry nut-like drupe 4–5 mm diameter.Andrews, S. (1994). Tree of the year: Zelkova. "Int. Dendrol. Soc. Yearbook" 1993: 11-30.] Mitchell, A. F. (1974). "A Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-212035-6] Mitchell, A. F. (1982). "The Trees of Britain and Northern Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-219037-0] White, J. & More, D. (2003). "Trees of Britain & Northern Europe". Cassell's, London. ISBN 0-304-36192-5]

Etymology

The tree is named for the Belgian botanist Ambroise Verschaffelt who owned the Verschaffelt Nursery in Ghent, later acquired by Jean Jules Linden, the renowned horticulturist and camellia specialist.

Arboreta etc accessions

Europe

*Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, acc. no. 19531019 (15 m tall in 2004 [Tree Register of the British Isles] )
*Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, acc. no. 1982.0194, as "Z. carpinifolia" 'Verschaffeltii'.
*University of Copenhagen Botanic Garden, acc. no. P.1977-5020, as "Z. carpinifolia" 'Verschaffeltii'.

North America

*Longwood Gardens, acc. no. 1992-0138, as "Z. carpinifolia" 'Verschaffeltii'.
*New York Botanical Garden, acc. no. 2793/93, as "Z. verschaffeltii".

ynonymy

*"Ulmus" 'Pitteurs Pendula', in error.

References