Ulmus 'Christine Buisman'
Encyclopedia
The elm cultivar 'Christine Buisman' was the first release of the Dutch elm
breeding programme initiated in response to the less virulent form of Dutch
elm disease (DED), Ophiostoma ulmi
, which afflicted Europe's elms after the First
World War. 'Christine Buisman' was selected as No. '24' from a lot of >300 seedlings, identified as Ulmus foliacea (syn. U. minor) but later considered to be Ulmus × hollandica
by Melville
, obtained from Spain
(probably Madrid
) in 1929.
To begin with, No. '24' showed no signs of DED after several artificial inoculations, but in later years minor symptoms were detected on both the motherplant and grafted descendants, but these were considered too insignificant to delay its release to commerce as Ulmus 'Christine Buisman' in 1936.
The tree has an upright, oval habit generally considered unattractive owing to its irregular growth pattern.
as it lacked resistance mechanisms. It has been suggested that the tree may have a better field (rather than intrinsic) resistance to DED, which would better explain the survival of so many older trees in the Europe and the USA.
and the USA where it was planted as a street tree until the late 1950s. The tree can still be found in the Netherlands, notably in The Hague
, and Heiloo
, and in the UK at Brighton
.
in memory of Christine Buisman survives (2010) outside the Cronkhite Graduate Center, Harvard University
, USA.. A particularly impressive plantation exists in the USA at Buffalo
, along the McKinley Parkway its side streets.
, one of the original team of elm researchers at Wageningen
which discovered the cause of Dutch elm disease in 1927.
Europe
breeding programme initiated in response to the less virulent form of Dutch
elm disease (DED), Ophiostoma ulmi
Ophiostoma ulmi
Ophiostoma ulmi is a species of fungus in the Ophiostomataceae family. It is one of the causative agents of Dutch elm disease. It was first described under the name Graphium ulmi, and later transferred to the genus Ophiostoma....
, which afflicted Europe's elms after the First
World War. 'Christine Buisman' was selected as No. '24' from a lot of >300 seedlings, identified as Ulmus foliacea (syn. U. minor) but later considered to be Ulmus × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica
Ulmus × hollandica Mill. , often known simply as Dutch Elm, is a natural hybrid between Wych Elm Ulmus glabra and Field Elm Ulmus minor which commonly occurs across Europe wherever the ranges of the two parent species overlap. In England, according to the field-studies of R. H...
by Melville
Ronald Melville
Ronald Melville was an English botanist, based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. He is chiefly remembered for his wartime research into rosehips as a source of vitamin C, prompted by the epidemic of scurvy amongst children owing to the reduced importation of fresh fruit...
, obtained from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(probably Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
) in 1929.
To begin with, No. '24' showed no signs of DED after several artificial inoculations, but in later years minor symptoms were detected on both the motherplant and grafted descendants, but these were considered too insignificant to delay its release to commerce as Ulmus 'Christine Buisman' in 1936.
Description
Pests and diseases
Moderately resistant to Dutch elm disease (DED), but very prone to cankers caused by Coral Spot fungus Nectria cinnabarinaNectria cinnabarina
Nectria cinnabarina is a plant pathogen that causes cankers on many tree species and also a disease known as coral spot.- External links :* *...
as it lacked resistance mechanisms. It has been suggested that the tree may have a better field (rather than intrinsic) resistance to DED, which would better explain the survival of so many older trees in the Europe and the USA.
Cultivation
The tree had not been thoroughly evaluated in the field before its release. However, such was the clamour for a resistant tree in the The Netherlands, nurseries there raised and released large numbers, selling almost 10,000 per annum by the late 1930s. Once its shortcomings, which included poor resistance to sea winds, became apparent, commercial production soon ceased , although by this time it had already been exported to ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the USA where it was planted as a street tree until the late 1950s. The tree can still be found in the Netherlands, notably in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, and Heiloo
Heiloo
Heiloo is a municipality and town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The community is part of the cooperation region Kennemerland and is located in the historical region of West Friesland....
, and in the UK at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
Notable trees
A large specimen planted in 1957 by Bernice CronkhiteBernice Cronkhite
Bernice Brown Cronkhite was an educator and former dean of Radcliffe College, working there for thirty-six years...
in memory of Christine Buisman survives (2010) outside the Cronkhite Graduate Center, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, USA.. A particularly impressive plantation exists in the USA at Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, along the McKinley Parkway its side streets.
Cultivars
- U. '297'. Dutch self-pollinated tree. Specimen planted at Preston ParkPreston ParkPreston Park may refer to:* Preston Park, Brighton* Preston Park railway station* Preston Park , London* Preston Park, Pennsylvania* Preston Park, Stockton-on-Tees...
, BrightonBrightonBrighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, in 1964; 19 m high, 43 cm d.b.h. in 2001. Other examples of the same can be found on waste land north of Patcham, Brighton.
Etymology
The tree is named for Christine BuismanChristine Buisman
Christine Johanna Buisman was a Dutch phytopathologist who dedicated her short career to the research of Dutch Elm Disease and the selection of resistant elm seedlings...
, one of the original team of elm researchers at Wageningen
Wageningen
' is a municipality and a historical town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is famous for Wageningen University, which specializes in life sciences. The city has 37,414 inhabitants , of which many thousands are students...
which discovered the cause of Dutch elm disease in 1927.
Synonymy
- Ulmus 'Buisman': Plant Buyer's Guide, ed. 6. 285, 1958, without description.
- Ulmus × hollandica 'Christine Buisman': MelvilleRonald MelvilleRonald Melville was an English botanist, based at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. He is chiefly remembered for his wartime research into rosehips as a source of vitamin C, prompted by the epidemic of scurvy amongst children owing to the reduced importation of fresh fruit...
, and various arboreta listings in USA and Europe. - Ulmus procera 'Christine Buisman': Morton Arboretum Catalogue 2006.
Accessions
North America- Arnold Arboretum. Acc. nos. 135-54, 273-46
- Bartlett Tree Experts. Acc. no. 1371
- Dawes ArboretumDawes ArboretumThe Dawes Arboretum is a non-profit arboretum located outside of Columbus in Newark, Ohio. As one of the premier public gardens in North America, The Dawes Arboretum has over of plant collections, gardens and natural areas...
http://www.dawesarb.org/collectionsgardens/plant-search.asp, NewarkNewark, OhioIn addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. 3 trees, as U. carpinifolia 'Christine Buisman'. No acc. details available. - Holden ArboretumHolden ArboretumThe Holden Arboretum, in Kirtland, Ohio, USA, is one of the largest arboretums and botanical gardens in the United States, with over 3,500 acres , 600 acres of which are devoted to collections and gardens. Diverse natural areas and ecologically sensitive habitats make up the rest of the holdings...
. Acc. nos. 54-271, 55-446 - Longwood GardensLongwood GardensLongwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
. Acc. no. 1967-0875 - Morton ArboretumMorton ArboretumThe Morton Arboretum, in Lisle, Illinois, covers 1,700 acres and is made up of gardens of various plant types and collections of trees from specific taxonomical and geographical areas. It includes native woodlands and a restored Illinois prairie. The Arboretum has over 4,100 different species of...
(as Ulmus procera 'Christine Buisman'). Acc. no. 223-49, 30-2007 (graft). - U S National ArboretumUnited States National ArboretumThe United States National Arboretum is an arboretum in Washington, D.C., operated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service as a division of the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center...
http://www.usna.usda.gov/index.htm, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, USA. Acc. no. 76239.
Europe
- Brighton & HoveBrighton & HoveBrighton and Hove is a unitary authority area and city on the south coast of England. It is England's most populous seaside resort.In 1997 Brighton and Hove were joined to form the unitary authority of Brighton and Hove, which was granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II as part of the millennium...
City Council, UK, NCCPG Elm Collection http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1108042 (as Ulmus × hollandica 'Christine Buisman'). TROBIThe Tree RegisterThe Tree Register, or more fully, the Tree Register of the British Isles , is a registered charity collating and updating a database of notable trees throughout Britain and Ireland...
Champion: Palmeira Avenue, Hove, 16 m high, 33 cm d.b.h. in 2002 . Three mature specimens grow at Carden Park, Hollingbury, Brighton.