Celtis occidentalism 
THE AMERICAN NETTLE-TREE. 
Synonrjmes. 
Celtis occidentalis, 
Micocoulier d'occident, Micocoulier de 
Virginie, Micocoulier des Antilles, Tro- 
phus d'Amerique, Bois-ramon, 
Abendlandischer Ziirgel, 
Celto occidentale, 
Bois inconnu, 
North American Nettle-tree, 
American Nettle-tree, Sugar Berry-tree, 
Linn-eus, Species Plantarum. 
Michaux, North American Sylva. 
Loudon, Arboretum Britannicuin. 
France. 
Germany. 
Italy. 
French Illinois. 
Britain. 
United States. 
Derivations. The specific name occidentalis is derived from the Latin occido, to set, or go down ; twin? reference to this 
tree as growing in a direction, from Europe, towards the setting sun. The appellation Nettle-tree relates to the similarity of 
the leaves of this tree to those of some kinds of nettle (Urtica.) This species is called Sugar Berry, from the iwaetnc 
the fruit. 
Engravings. Michaux, North American Sylva, pi. 114; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, vii., pi. 243 et 249; and tha 
figures below. 
Specific Characters. Leaves alternate, ovate-acuminate ; in the acuminate part, and at the base, entire ; 
in the interval on each side, serrate; base acute, oblique, unequal; glabrous on the upper surface, 
pubescent beneath, and marked with conspicuous veins. Flowers solitary ; in the lower part of the 
branch, 3 in an axil ; in the upper part, 1 only in the axil. Fruit solitary, axillary, on pedicels sub 
equal or shorter than the petioles ; globular, obscurely purple or red. 
Description. 
g^^ilHE Celtis occidentalis 
L 1 H 1*4 is a large tree, varying 
J |fin height from thirty 
to seventy feet, with a 
I, ,j _ j ^ , U1AK9 V" 1 "\V KSWJtOJ ^ I 
trunk from eighteen inches to four feet or more 
in diameter. Its branches are numerous and 
slender, and the limbs originate at small dis- j- , 
tances from the ground, and seek a horizontal X\~~\ 
or an inclined direction. The bark of the trunk 
is rough, and that of the secondary branches 
smooth and even. The branchlets are angu- 
lar, pubescent, but not dotted. The leaves, 
when young, are ovate-lanceolate, and some- 
what downy. When adult, they are broadly 
ovate-acuminate, about three inches long, oval- 
oblique or acute at the base, very acuminate at 
the summit, and distinctly toothed in their cen- 
tral margins. Their colour is a beautiful dark 
green, smooth or slightly rough on the upper surface, and hairy OX pubescent 
beneath, with numerous prominent veins. They may readily be distinguished 
from those of the European species, by being larger, ol a ighter and more shining 
green, and by their dying off earlier, with a brighter yellow hue, 1 he Bo* i 
which put forth in March, April, or May, are very small, white, and are suc- 
ceeded by purplish-red drupes, of a round form, and about the Size ol a Wild 
