Ulmus minor var. goodyeri
Encyclopedia
Goodyer's Elm, Ulmus minor var. goodyeri, a variety of the subspecies U. m. subsp. angustifolia, was discovered in England
by John Goodyer
in 1624, growing along the Lymington
to Christchurch road at Pennington
. All but identical in leaf and branchlet to the Cornish Elm Ulmus minor subsp. angustifolia , the structure of the tree is markedly different, possessing a very distinct fan-shaped form. As susceptible to Dutch elm disease as its compatriots, no old specimens are known to survive, but the tree is perpetuated by numerous suckering trees, notably in the lanes about the Alice Lisle
public house in the New Forest
hamlet of Rockford
.
The tree has suffered much misidentification in the centuries since its discovery, firstly by Philip Miller
in his 'Gardeners' Dictionary' of 1731, and later in the early 20th century by Augustine Henry
, who confused the tree with Plot's Elm
, yclept Lock Elm, Ulmus minor var. plotii, found nearly 200 miles away in the East Midlands
, and of completely different appearance.
was approximately 13 m high, with a broad crown comprising widely-splaying ascending branches. The leaves are small, normally < 6 cm long by < 3 cm broad, with the typical oblique base. The texture of the leaves varies considerably with the tree's age, those of juvenile trees being coarse, those of mature trees smooth, and with longer petioles
. The perfect wind-pollinated apetalous flowers are produced on second-year shoots in March; the small, obovate samarae
are rarely fertile.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by John Goodyer
John Goodyer
John Goodyer was a 17th century botanist who lived in Hampshire, England. He was born in Alton, and evidently received a good education, although it is not known where...
in 1624, growing along the Lymington
Lymington
Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town...
to Christchurch road at Pennington
Pennington
-Places:United States*Pennington, Alabama*Pennington, New Jersey*Pennington, Texas*Pennington, Wisconsin**home to The Pennington School*The Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana*Pennington County, Minnesota...
. All but identical in leaf and branchlet to the Cornish Elm Ulmus minor subsp. angustifolia , the structure of the tree is markedly different, possessing a very distinct fan-shaped form. As susceptible to Dutch elm disease as its compatriots, no old specimens are known to survive, but the tree is perpetuated by numerous suckering trees, notably in the lanes about the Alice Lisle
Alice Lisle
Lady Alice Lisle , commonly known as Dame Alicia Lisle or Dame Alice Lyle, was a landed lady of the English county of Hampshire, who was executed for harbouring fugitives after the defeat of the Monmouth Rebellion at the Battle of Sedgemoor.-Family:Dame Alice was a daughter of Sir White Beconshaw...
public house in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
hamlet of Rockford
Rockford, Hampshire
Rockford is a hamlet on the western edge of the New Forest National Park of Hampshire, England. Its nearest town is Ringwood, which lies approximately 1.8 miles south from the hamlet.-Overview:Rockford is a hamlet close to the village of Ellingham...
.
The tree has suffered much misidentification in the centuries since its discovery, firstly by Philip Miller
Philip Miller
Philip Miller FRS was a Scottish botanist.Miller was chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1722 until he was pressured to retire shortly before his death...
in his 'Gardeners' Dictionary' of 1731, and later in the early 20th century by Augustine Henry
Augustine Henry
Augustine Henry was an Irish plantsman and sinologist. He is best known for sending over 15,000 dry specimens and seeds and 500 plant samples to Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom. By 1930, he was a recognised authority and was honoured with society membership in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Finland,...
, who confused the tree with Plot's Elm
Plot's Elm
Ulmus minor var. plotii Richens, known as Plot's Elm, or Lock Elm, is found only in England, where it is encountered mainly in the East Midlands, notably around the River Witham in Lincolnshire and in the Trent Valley around Newark on Trent...
, yclept Lock Elm, Ulmus minor var. plotii, found nearly 200 miles away in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
, and of completely different appearance.
Description
The largest tree recorded by MelvilleRonald 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...
was approximately 13 m high, with a broad crown comprising widely-splaying ascending branches. The leaves are small, normally < 6 cm long by < 3 cm broad, with the typical oblique base. The texture of the leaves varies considerably with the tree's age, those of juvenile trees being coarse, those of mature trees smooth, and with longer petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. The perfect wind-pollinated apetalous flowers are produced on second-year shoots in March; the small, obovate samarae
Samara (fruit)
A samara is a type of fruit in which a flattened wing of fibrous, papery tissue develops from the ovary wall. A samara is a simple dry fruit and indehiscent . It is a winged achene...
are rarely fertile.