334 ULMACE.E. 



LIQUID AMBAR. Linn. Sweet Gum. 



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

 which exudes from the tree.) 



Character same as that of the order, 



L. slyraciflua 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 aments 

 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 Suueet Gum. Bilsted. 



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. Elm. 



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

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

 58. 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 6080 

 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 specie?. American Elm. White Elm. 



2. U. fuha 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. riibra Mich. f. 



Mountains. N. Y. to Cur. 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. nenioralis Ait. : leaves oblong, somewhat glabrous, equally serrate, 

 nearly equal at base : flowers sessile. 



