A Dutch hybrid cultivar raised at Wageningen, Ulmus Lobel was derived from a crossing of clone 202 (U. glabra 'Exoniensis' × U. wallichiana) with 336 ('Bea Schwarz', selfed), cloned in 1962 and released for sale in 1973.

Description

'Lobel' is a fastigiate, small-crowned, tree not unlike the pyramidal Hornbeam Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata'.Heybroek, H. M. (1983). Resistant Elms for Europe. In Burdekin, D. A. (Ed.) Research on Dutch elm disease in Europe. For. Comm. Bull. 60. pp 108 - 113.Heybroek, H. M. (1993). The Dutch Elm Breeding Program. In Sticklen & Sherald (Eds.) (1993). Dutch Elm Disease Research, Chapter 3. Springer Verlag, New York, USA. The typically acuminate leaves are 11 cm long × 7 cm broad, and notably late to flush, rarely before mid-May .

Pests and diseases

'Lobel' has been rated 4 out of 5 ("good") for its resistance to Dutch elm disease 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 9709050112819.

Cultivation

Following the development and release of cultivars such as 'Columella' more resistant to Dutch elm disease, planting is no longer recommended wherever the disease is prevalent. Sales in the Netherlands declined from over 12,000 in 1989 to 1,100 in 2004 [322278]. However, 'Lobel' is particularly resistant to sea winds, and was accordingly planted in large numbers by Portsmouth City Council in the late 1980s, notably to replace the ancient Huntingdon Elms lost in the Great Storm of 1987 along the Ladies' Mile on Southsea Common. There are also large plantings at Ealing and Primrose Hill, London, Brighton & Hove, and Havant. 'Lobel' was included in trials [322279] in Canberra, Australia started in 1988 but has not thrived in that environment. It is not known to have been commercially released in North America, although it was evaluated at the Iowa State University in the 1970s and may still survive there.

Etymology

The tree is named for Matthias de L'obel, the Flemish botanist also commemorated by the genus Lobelia.

Accessions

Europe

• Arboretum de La Petite Loiterie [322280], Monthodon, France. No details available
• Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection
• Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK. Acc. no. 1980.729

Nurseries

Europe

• Sap Nurseries [322281], Cahir, Tipperary, Ireland
• Barcham Trees [322282], Ely, Cambs., UK
• Bellwood Trees [322283], Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland, UK
• De Reebock [322284], Zwalm, Belgium
• Dulford Nurseries [322285], Cullompton, Devon, UK
• Johan Van Herreweghe [322286], Schellebelle, Belgium.
• Lorenz von Ehren [322287], Hamburg, Germany
• PlantenTuin Esveld [322288], Boskoop, Netherlands.
• UmbraFlor [322289], Spello, Italy
• Westerveld Boomkwekerij B.V.[322290], Opheusden, Netherlands

References

1. Santini, A., Fagnani, A., Ferrini, F., Ghelardini, L., & Mittempergher, L. (2005). Variation among Italian and French elm clones in their response to Ophiostoma novo-ulmi inoculation. Forest Pathology, 25 (2005), 183-193, Blackwell Verlag, Berlin
2. Burdekin, D. A. & Rushforth, K. D. (Revised by Webber J. F. 1996). Elms resistant to Dutch elm disease. Arboricultural Research Note 2/96. Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Alice Holt, Farnham, UK.
3. Hiemstra, J.A. et al. (2007) Belang en toekomst van de iep in Nederland. Praktijkonderzoek Plant & Omgeving, Wageningen UR, Netherlands.
4. Gibbs, J. N., Brasier, C. M., McNabb Jnr., H.S., and Heybroek, H. M. (1975). Further studies on the pathenogenicity in Ceratocystis ulmi. Europ. Journ. Forest. Path. 5 (3): 161-174.