334 ULMACEyE. 



LiaUIDAMBAR. Linn.— Sweet Gum. 



(From the Latin liquidum, fluid, and ambar, amber ; in allusion to the liquid 

 which exudes from the tree.) 



Character same as that of the order. 



L. styracijkia Linn.: leaves palmately lobed; lobes acuminate, serrate; 

 axils of the primary veins villous. 



Low woods. N. Y. to Flor. W. to Miss. May. — A tree sometimes attaining 

 the height of 60 or 70 feet. Leaves fragrant when bruised. Fertile arrumts 

 when in fruit about an inch in diameter, forming a brownish woody and prickly 

 strobile. At the South, the tree yields an aromatic liquid. 



Common Sweet Gum. Bihted. 



Order CXXI. ULMACEJE.— Elms. 



Flowers perfect or polygamous by abortion. Perianth cam- 

 panulate, imbricate, irregular. Stamens 5 — 10, inserted on the 

 perianth. Ovary 2-celled ; stigmas 2, distinct. Fruit a samara, 

 an indehiscent capsule or a drupe. Seed solitary, without albu- 

 men. — Trees or shrubs, with rough alternate simple deciduous 

 leaves and stipules. 



1. ULMUS. Linn.— mm. 

 (An ancient Latin name, the origin of which is doubtful.) 

 Flowers perfect. Perianth campanulate, 5 — 8-cleft. Stamens 

 5 — 8. Styles 2. Fruit (a samara) flat, with a broad mem- 

 branaceous border. 



1. U. Americana Linn. : branches smooth ; leaves smooth above, pubes- 

 cent beneath, somewhat doubly serrate, unequal at the base ; serratures 

 uncinately acuminate ; flowers pedicellate, in loose lateral fascicles ; samara 

 oval, densely villose, ciliate on the margin. 



Low grounds. N. Y. to Car. W. to Miss. April, May. — A tree 60—80 

 feet or more in height, with long recurved branches. Flowers purplish, in small 

 fascicles, generally appearing before the leaves. Stamens 4 — 8. In favorable 

 situations the most magnificent tree on the continent. The wood is less com- 

 pact than that of the two next species. American Elm. White Elm. 



2. U. fulva Mich. : branches scabrous, white ; leaves ovate-oblong, 

 much acuminate, very scabrous above and somewhat roughly pubescent 

 beneath ; buds tomentose, with a thick tawny wool ; flowers in dense 

 nearly sessile fascicles, ; samara orbicular, nearly naked on the margin, 

 U. rubra Mich. f. 



Mountains. N. Y. to Car. May.— A tree 20, 30, or 40 feet high. Leaves 

 much larger than in the preceding and very rough. Stamens 7 — 9. The inner 

 bark contains a great portion of mucilage, and is largely employed for medi- 

 cinal purposes. Slippery Elm. 



3. U. nemoralis Ait. : leaves oblong, somewhat glabroug, equally serrate, 

 nearly equal at base ; flowers sessile. 



