Ulmus 'San Zanobi'

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. 'San Zanobi' was introduced to the UK in 2004 by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Branch, Butterfly Conservation, as part of its assessment of DED-resistant cultivars as potential hosts of the endangered White-letter Hairstreak.[1]

Ulmus 'San Zanobi'
'San Zanobi', Great Fontley, UK
GenusUlmus
Hybrid parentage'Plantyn' × U. pumila 'S 15'
Cultivar'San Zanobi'
OriginIPP, Florence, Italy

Description

'San Zanobi' is a fastigiate, often monopodial tree with upright branching bearing glabrous, bright green leaves < 15 cm long × < 6 cm broad.[2][3] Like its compatriot 'Plinio', the tree lacks striking autumn colours, the leaves remaining green almost until they fall in late November. [1] 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.[2]

  • 'San Zanobi' leaf, and 1 Euro coin
  • Bark of 20-year-old tree

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.[2]

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 2004, 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]

As of 1 January 2018, the import of 'San Zanobi' to the UK from Italy is prohibited, the plant unable to qualify for a phytopassport owing to the prevalence of Elm Yellows in the region of cultivation. [5] However, it is propagated by a nursery in Germany which has obtained Plant breeder's rights, whence it is exported to the UK. [1]

'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

Nurseries
Europe

References
  1. Brookes, A. H. (2020). Disease-resistant elm cultivars. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Brookes, A. H. (2020). Great Fontley Elm Trial, 2020 Report. Butterfly Conservation, Lulworth, England.
  5. DEFRA. (2018). UK Plant Health Controls.
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