580 



ULMACE^. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Order CCXXI. ULMACE^.— Elmworts. 



Ulmacese, Mirbel Elem. 905. (1815) ; Lindl. Synops. 225 ; Endl. Gen. xc; Meisn. Gen. p 351.— Celtideae, 

 Rich., Gaiidich. in Freyc. Voy. 507. (1826) ; Endl. Gen. xci.; Meisner Gen. p. 348. 



Diagnosis. — Rhamnal Exogens, with apetalous floioers, an ovary composed of 2 carpels, an 

 calyx irregularly divided at the edge, and thin and leafy cotyledons. 



Trees or slu'ubs, with rough, alternate, usually deciduous leaves, each having a pair 

 of deciduous stipules at its base. Flowers sometimes by abortion $ ^ , in loose clus- 

 ters, never in catkins. Calyx membranous, imbricated, campanulate, inferior, irregular. 



Petals 0. Stamens definite, inserted into the 

 base of the calyx, erect in eestivation. Ovary 

 superior or 2-celled ; ovules solitary, pendulous, 

 anatropal, or amphitropal ; stigmas 2, distinct. 

 Fruit 1- or 2-celled, indehiscent, membranous 

 or drupaceous. Seed solitary, pendulous ; al- 

 bvmien none, or in very small quantity; embryo 

 straight or curved, with fohaceous cotyledons ; 

 radicle superior. 



The plants of which Elm trees are the repre- 

 sentatives assume two appeai'ances, which have 

 led Botanists into the opinion that they consti- 

 tute two distinct Natural Orders. Of these the 

 Nettle-trees, or Celtese, have a hard fleshy fruit 

 composed of a single carpel and amphitropal 

 ovules, while the true Elms or Ulmese have a 

 membranous fruit and anatropal ovules. They 

 are, however, so much alike in most other 

 circumstances, that it seems better to regard 

 them as mere forms of one type, more especially 

 smce it seems, from the presence of two stigmas, 

 that even the Celtese themselves are really fur- 

 nished with two carpels. It is very unusual to 

 place Elmworts at a distance from Nettleworts, but I confess that their affinity seems 

 to be much stronger with Rhamnads, of which they have the exact seed. 



Natives of the North of Asia, the movmtains of India, China, North America, and 

 Europe ; in the latter of which countries they form valuable timber-trees. 



The mner bark of the Elm is sUghtly bitter and astringent, demulcent, and diuretic ; 

 it has been used in some skin diseases, but it does not appear to possess any important 

 quality. The substance which exudes spontaneously from it is called Ulmin ; this is also 

 foimd in the Oak, Chesnut, and other trees, and, according to Berzelius, is a constituent 

 of most kinds of bark. Elm wood is soft, tough, and coarse, but useful for many 

 rough purposes, especially for water-pipes buried in the gromid. The wood of Planera 

 AbeUcea, the Pseudosantalum creticum of the old Pharmacopoeias, is aromatic. The 

 young branches of Celtis austraHs ai'e boiled, and the infusion is used against dysentery 

 and blenorrhoea ; the fruit is sweetish, and rather astringent ; the kernel jdelds a 

 useful oil. The drupes of Celtis occidentaUs, the Nettle-tree or Sugar-beny, are admi- 

 nistered in the United States in dysentery. The root, bark, and leaves of Celtis orien- 

 taUs are somewhat aromatic, and are employed among eastern nations as a remedy for 

 epilepsy. 



GENERA. 



Fig. CCCXCIII. 



I. CELTB.E. — Ovary one- 

 celled; ovules amphi- 

 tropal. 



Celtis, Tournef. 



Sponia, Commers. 



Solenostigma, Endl. 

 Mertensia, H. B. K. 

 ? Bosea, Linn. 



Yerva-Mora, Ludw. 



II. Ulme^.— Ovary two- 

 celled ; o\iiles anatro- 

 pal. 



Planera, Gmel. 



Abelicea, Hon. Belli. 



Zelkova, Spach. 

 Euptelea, Zucc. 

 Microptelea, Spach. 

 Ulmus, Linn. 



Numbers. Gen. 9. Sp. 60. 



Urticacece. 

 Position. — Rhamnacese. — Ulmace^. — Penseacese. 



TliymelacecB. 



Fig. CCCXCIII.— Ulmus campestris.— i^ea. 1. its flower ; 2. its pistil; 3. its fruit ; 4. its embryo. 



