The Japanese ElmcultivarUlmus davidianavar.japonica 'Jacan' is a cold-resistant selection from Canada. The tree was one of a group of second-generation japonica seedlings raised in the 1970s, originally for use in the prairie regions, by the Morden Research Station, Morden, Manitoba.[1][2][3] It was first distributed in 1977,[1] and was later among the Asiatic elms, some sourced from Canada, donated to the UK in 1980 by the London branch of Mitsui & Co.[4]
Description
'Jacan' develops a rounded crown form typical of the species; the foliage turns a deep red in autumn.[5] The species does not sucker from roots.[6]
'Jacan' has not been widely planted in Canada owing to restrictions imposed by the Canadian government on the movement of elms across the country, which severely limited its potential market. The tree was introduced to the UK (see Accessions) and Italy from Canada in the early 1980s, but was never in commerce in either country and thus remains very rare. It is not known to have been introduced to Australasia. It was originally propagated by base-grafting on Siberian elm stock.[1]
Hybrids
'Jacan' was crossed with 'Sapporo Autumn Gold' by the Istituto per la Protezione delle Piante, Florence; the selection identified as 'FL441'. Although it performed well in trials, being noted for its abundant foliage, 'FL441' was never patented or released to commerce.[7]
Accessions
North America
None known.
Europe
Brighton & Hove City Council, UK, NCCPG National Elm Collection, UK champion: Sussex University campus, 15 m high, 31 cm d.b.h. in 2002, (listed as U. japonica 'Jacan').[8]
^Santini, A, et al. Elm breeding for DED resistance, the Italian clones and their wood properties. Invest. Agrar: Sist Recur For (2004) 13 (1), 179–184.
^Johnson, Owen (ed.) (2003). Champion Trees of Britain & Ireland. Whittet Press, ISBN978-1-873580-61-5.