Zelkova × verschaffeltii
Encyclopedia
Zelkova × verschaffeltii (Cut-leaf Zelkova) is a zelkova
cultivar
of hybrid origin. It was originally described in 1892 by Leopold Dippel from a cultivated plant as Zelkova japonica var. verschaffeltii, suggesting an eastern Asian origin for it. In 1896, George Nicholson raised it to species rank as Zelkova verschaffeltii, while its much closer similarity to Zelkova carpinifolia
led Augustine Henry
to suggest it might be a hybrid between Zelkova carpinifolia and Zelkova abelicea
. More recent authors most widely regarded it as a cultivar, either not ascribed to any Zelkova species in particular, or placed under Z. carpinifolia with no suggestion of hybrid origin. Analysis of flavonoid
s has subsequently proved that it is a hybrid between Zelkova carpinifolia and Zelkova serrata
.
or small, bushy-crowned tree
< 15 m tall, with mottled grey and brown bark
and graceful habit. The leaves
are narrow, 3.5–8 cm long and 1.3–6.6 cm broad, deeply incised with between five and ten pairs of triangular teeth. The fruit
is rarely produced, a small two-lobed dry nut-like drupe
4–5 mm diameter.
nursery at Ghent
in Belgium
before 1885.
who owned the Verschaffelt Nursery in Ghent
, later acquired by Jean Jules Linden
, the renowned horticulturist and camellia
specialist.
Zelkova
Zelkova is a genus of six species of deciduous trees in the elm family Ulmaceae, native to southern Europe, and southwest and eastern Asia. They vary in size from shrubs to large trees up to 35 m tall . The leaves are alternate, with serrated margins, and a symmetrical base to the leaf blade...
cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
of hybrid origin. It was originally described in 1892 by Leopold Dippel from a cultivated plant as Zelkova japonica var. verschaffeltii, suggesting an eastern Asian origin for it. In 1896, George Nicholson raised it to species rank as Zelkova verschaffeltii, while its much closer similarity to Zelkova carpinifolia
Zelkova carpinifolia
Zelkova carpinifolia is a species of Zelkova, native to the Caucasus, Kaçkar, and Alborz mountains in the extreme southeast of Europe and southwest Asia....
led 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,...
to suggest it might be a hybrid between Zelkova carpinifolia and Zelkova abelicea
Zelkova abelicea
Zelkova abelicea, also known as Cretan zelkova, is a species that belongs to the genus Zelkova and is endemic to the Greek island of Crete. It is found in small numbers and is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list of endangered species....
. More recent authors most widely regarded it as a cultivar, either not ascribed to any Zelkova species in particular, or placed under Z. carpinifolia with no suggestion of hybrid origin. Analysis of flavonoid
Flavonoid
Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....
s has subsequently proved that it is a hybrid between Zelkova carpinifolia and Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata
Zelkova serrata is a species of Zelkova native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan. It is often grown as an ornamental tree, and used in bonsai.-Description:...
.
Description
A large shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
or small, bushy-crowned tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
< 15 m tall, with mottled grey and brown bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
and graceful habit. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are narrow, 3.5–8 cm long and 1.3–6.6 cm broad, deeply incised with between five and ten pairs of triangular teeth. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is rarely produced, a small two-lobed dry nut-like drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
4–5 mm diameter.
Cultivation
First found in cultivation in the van HoutteLouis van Houtte
Louis Benoit van Houtte was a Belgian horticulturist who was with the Jardin Botanique de Brussels between 1836 and 1838 and is best-known for the journal Flore des Serres et des Jardins de l'Europe, produced with Charles Lemaire and M...
nursery at Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
before 1885.
Etymology
The tree is named for the Belgian botanist Ambroise VerschaffeltAmbroise Verschaffelt
Ambroise Verschaffelt was a distinguished Belgian horticulturist and author. He founded the L'Illustration Horticole at Ghent in 1854 and introduced many new camellia species. The Verschaffelts were a family of Belgian nurserymen specializing in camellias. They published the Nouvelle Iconographie...
who owned the Verschaffelt Nursery in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, later acquired by Jean Jules Linden
Jean Jules Linden
Jean Jules Linden , was a Belgian botanist and explorer, horticulturist and businessman, specialising in orchids, on which subject he wrote a number of books....
, the renowned horticulturist and camellia
Camellia
Camellia, the camellias, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae. They are found in eastern and southern Asia, from the Himalaya east to Korea and Indonesia. There are 100–250 described species, with some controversy over the exact number...
specialist.
Europe
- Royal Botanic Garden EdinburghRoyal Botanic Garden EdinburghThe Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden to grow medicinal plants, today it occupies four sites across Scotland — Edinburgh,...
, acc. no. 19531019 (15 m tall in 2004) - Sir Harold Hillier GardensSir Harold Hillier GardensThe Sir Harold Hillier Gardens is an arboretum comprising 72 hectares accommodating over 42,000 trees and shrubs in about 12,000 taxa, notably a collection of oaks, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron....
, acc. no. 1982.0194, as Z. carpinifolia 'Verschaffeltii'. - University of CopenhagenUniversity of CopenhagenThe University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
Botanic Garden, acc. no. P.1977-5020, as Z. carpinifolia 'Verschaffeltii'.
North America
- 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. 1992-0138, as Z. carpinifolia 'Verschaffeltii'. - New York Botanical GardenNew York Botanical Garden- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
, acc. no. 2793/93, as Z. verschaffeltii.