Genus ULMUS, Linn. 



Ulmaceae. Fentandria Digynia. 



Si/at. iVa<. tiy,i. Lin. 



Synonymes. 



Ulmus, Of Authoks. 



Orrae, France. 



Ulrae, Raster, Germany. 



Olmo, Spain and Italy. 



Olmo, Ulmo, Ulmeyro, Purtugal. 



lin, Britain and Anglo- America. 



Derivations. The word Ulmus is supposed to be derived from the Saxon elm, or u/m ; a name which is applied, with very 

 light alleraliniis, to the Ulmus canipeslris, in all the dialects of the Celtic tongue. Ulm is still one of the Gennan name* fur 

 -his tree; and the city of Ulm is said to have derived its name from the great number of elms that are growing near it. 



reneric Characters. Flowers, in most species, protruded earlier than the shoots and leaves of the year j 

 disposed in groups, each group lateral, and proceeding from a bud peculiar to it ; the flowers of the 

 group situated each upon a peduncle, or each upon a pedicel, and dispo.^ed a few together upon short 

 peduncles, or situated in both modes ; and sometimes they are disposed in racemes, composed of sev- 

 eral clusters of 2 to 4 together, extending to a considerable length, and furnished with 1 or 2 small, 

 though perfect leaves, before the opening of the terminal buds. Flowers bisexual, or a few of ihem 

 male ; both kinds upon one plant. Calyx reddish, distinct from the ovary, top-shaped, or bell-shaped, 

 of one piece, but having 48 segments, which are imbricate in aestivation ; remaining until the fruit 

 falls. Stamens as many as the segments ; inserted into the lower part of the calyx, opp<isitely to the 

 segments, and prominent bej'ond them. Anthers opening lengthwise, outwardly or inwardly. Ovary 

 elliptic-oblong, compressed, cloven at the summit, having 2 cells, and a pendulous ovule in each. 

 Style very short, or there is none. Stigmas 2, acuminate, villous on the inner face. Fruit a samara, 

 and this compressed, more or less round or oval, and having the wing-like part membranous, broad, 

 and present all round, except in a notch, the base of which is the place of the attachment of the stig- 

 mas. Seed 1, in a samara, pendulous; in many instances it is not perfected. Embrj-o unattended 

 by albumen, straight, its radicle uppermost. Flowers small. Leaves alternate, in 2 ranks, feather- 

 veined ; in most, unequal at the base, annual, serrate, and harsh to the touch. Stipules oblong, decid- 

 uous. Leaves within the bud folded lengthwise, in 2 portions, upright, with scales between leaf and 

 leaf. Adapted, from Nees Vun Escnbeck and others, 



;HE genus Ulmiis embraces deciduous trees, often of great size and 

 age, with rugged or corky bark, hard wood, twiggy branches, and 

 growing wild in Europe, Africa, North America, India, and China. 

 The roots of young plants, in some of the species, are of a leathery 

 roughness, very strong, of considerable lengtli and suppleness. 

 The more common, and perhaps all the kinds increase rapidly in 

 the number and the size of their roots and branches. All have strong, upright- 

 growing trunks ; but these vary, in several kinds, in their diameters and lengths. 

 The disposition of the branches, relatively to the trunk and to the head whicli 

 they constitute, also varies exceedingly ; and considerable ditfercnce of character 

 prevails in the spray. Although the cliaractcr of the foliage is nearly the same 

 in all the kinds, it varies in time of leafing and falling; and, in its size, colour, 

 and form. The flowers, in most of the species, are protruded before the leaves, 

 and are disposed in small groups, which give a knotted appearance to the leafless 

 branches, before they are fully developed; but which, afterwards, from their col- 

 our, and their being supported on peduncles, look like little, tufts of fringe. Tiie 

 trees are generally of easy culture, rapid growth, and will thrive ill almost any 

 soil that is not too moist, or excessively dry and barren. 



The species of this genus have a remarkable aptitude to vary from seeds: so 

 much so, that it is extremely dillicult to determine which are species and which 



