Genus ULMUS, Linn. 
Ulmaceae. Pentandria Digynia. 
Syst. Nat. Syt. Lin. 
Synonymes. 
Ulmus, Of Authors. 
Orme, France. 
Ulme, Ruster, Germany. 
Olmo, Spain and Italy. 
Olmo, TJlmo, Ulmeyro, Portugal. 
Elm, Britain and Anglo- America. 
Derivations. The word Ulmus is supposed to be derived from the Saxon elm, or ulm ; a name which is applied, with very 
light alterations, to the Ulmus campestris, in all the dialects of the Celtic tongue. Ulm is still one of the German nairaa for 
vhis tree; and the city of Ulm is said to have derived its name from the great number of elms that are growing near it. 
lenerio Characters. Flowers, in most species, protruded earlier than. the. shoots and leaves of the year ; 
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 disposed 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 them 
male; both kinds upon one plant. Calyx reddish, distinct from the ovary, top-shaped, or bell-shaped, 
of one piece, but having 4 -8 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, oppositely to the 
segments, and prominent beyond 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. Embryo 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 Von Escnbeck and others. 
}HE genus Ulmus 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 leatbery 
toughness, very strong, of considerable length 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 which 
they constitute, also varies exceedingly; and considerable difference of character 
prevails in the spray. Although the character 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, Iron, their col- 
our, and their being supported on peduncles, look like little tufts of fringe. 1 he 
trees are generally of easy culture, rapid growth, and will thrive in 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 difficult to determine which are species and which 
