Genus PTELEA, Linn. 
Xanthoxylaceae. 
Syst. Nat. 
Ptelea, Belinda, 
Orme de Samarie, 
Lederblume, 
Ptelea, 
Trefoil, 
Synonymes. 
Moncecia Tetra-Pentandria. 
Syst. Lin. 
Of Authors. 
France. 
Germany. 
Italy. 
Britain and Anglo-America. 
Derivations. Ptelea is the Greek name of the elm. It is derived from ptao, to fly, in allusion to the winged seed-ressels *! 
this tree. 
Generic Characters. Polygamous. Sepals 3 6, commonly 4, small. Petals much longer than the sepals, 
spreading. Stamens alternate with and longer than the petals ; filaments thickened below and hairy 
on the inside; in the fertile flowers very short and with sterile anthers. Ovary of 2 united carpels, 
placed on a convex torus ; ovules 2 in each carpel, situated one above the other ; styles short, united, 
or none ; stigmas 2. Fruit a 2-celled samara, turgid in the centre, the margin expanded into a broad, 
orbicular membranaceous and reticulated wing. Seeds oblong, solitary in each cell. Leaves pinnately 
3- (rarely 5-) foliate, with pellucid dots, the lateral leaflets inequilateral. Flowers whitish, cymose ; 
cvmes corymbed or panicled. Torrey and Gray, Flora. 
HE genus Ptelea embraces at least five species, four of which are 
indigenous to North America, and one to Cochin-China. The 
Ptelea monophylla, having simple, ovate, lanceolate leaves, is a 
native of Carolina, and grows to the height of four feet. The 
Ptelea pentandra and podocarpa are indigenous to Mexico, and 
grow to a height of six to ten feet. The Ptelea ovata is a simple- 
leaved species, native of Cochin-China. The other species, and the only one 
that has been cultivated with success, or has attained much size, is the Ptelea 
trifoliata, which, as appears by its history, well deserves a place in collections, 
both on account of the singularity of its leaves and fruity and the general beautv 
of the tree. 
