The Field Elm cultivar Ulmus minor 'Virgata' (:'twiggy') was first described, as Ulmus campestris virgata, by Pepin^[1] in Revue Horticole (1865) from a stand of some thirty trees beside a monastery at Grand-Puits near Nangis, Seine-et-Marne, said to have been planted by the friars in 1789 and propagated in 1835 by Cochet's nursery at Grisy-Suisnes.^[2][3] Pepin noted that in France 'Virgata' was sometimes confused with another, less vigorous elm cultivated as 'Orme pyramidal'^[4] (possibly the Baudriller nursery's 'Pyramidata' Hort.^[5]).

Not to be confused with Ulmus virgata Roxburgh (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.) or Ulmus virgata Wallich. ex. Planch. (Ulmus chumlia Melville & Heybroek).

Description[edit]

Pepin described the tree as vigorous, with short, slender, erect branches bestowing a fastigiate form. The oval pointed dark green leaves turn pale yellow in autumn and are retained late. Pepin likened the tree to cypress, Lombardy poplar and fastigiate oak.^[2]

Pests and diseases[edit]

Though susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease, field elms produce suckers and usually survive in this form in their area of origin.

Cultivation[edit]

In addition to the original cultivation by Cochet's of Grisy-Suisnes, Pepin himself, who described and admired the tree, planted lines of it from 1858 and recommended it for avenues. He propagated it by base-grafting.^[2] No specimens are known to survive.

References[edit]