12. CELTIS OCCIDENTALS SUGARBERRY. 57 



elm. As an emollient in the form of poultices etc., for inflammations it 

 is also largely used, being prepared by simply treating the dried bark, 

 either powdered or in a crude state, with hot water so as to be easily 

 formed into a poultice.* 



GENUS CELTIS, TOUBN. 



Leaves pointed, somewhat oblique at the base. Flowers appearing with the leaves, 

 greenish, axillary, monoeciously polygamous; the staminate flowers in little fascicles 

 or racemes; calyx 6-parted, stamens 6; the fertile flowers solitary or in pairs, peduncu- 

 late, calyx 5-parted, stamens 5, ovary 1-celled, styles 2, stigmas awl-shaped, elongated, 

 recurved. Fruit a globular drupe, 1-seeded; seed containing a little gelatinous 

 albumen, embryo curved, cotyledons crumpled. 



(Celtis is the ancient Greek "name of the Lotus.) 



12. CELTIS OCCIDENTALIS, L. 



SUGARBERRY, HACKEE KRY, NETTLE-TREE, FALSE ELM. 



Ger., Abendldndischer Ziiryelbaum; Fr., Mioocoulier occidentale; Sp., 



Almez Americano. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves quite various in the different varieties but usually 

 ovate, markedly taper-pointed from a broad, usually somewhat heart-shaped or trun- 

 cate unequal or oblique base, reticulated, sharply serrate except sometimes near the 

 base, more or less rough above and pubescent at least when young beneath. 

 Flowers (April, May) solitary, small, white, with peduncles once or twice as long as 

 the leaf stem; sepals triangular-ovate, erect. Fruit a small, solitary, round, sweet, 

 edible drupe, dark purple when fully mature. 



(Occidentalis, a Latin adjective meaning western.) 



A tree usually of medium size and very variable aspect; sometimes like 

 that of the Elm with spreading top; then, as often in northern New 

 York, broadly ovate in outline r with numerous slender but long hori- 

 zontal branches. In most favorable conditions of soil and climate it 

 attains the height of 100 ft. (30 m.) or more, with a trunk 5 ft. (1.52 m.) 

 in diameter. As the opposite extreme, it is found, in variety pumila, as 

 scarcely more than a shrub. Thus we see it is a very polymorphous 

 species and considering all its varieties of extensive 



HABITAT. Southern Canada and the United States generally east of the 

 Mississippi river, and said to attain its greatest development in the Mis- 

 sissippi basin. One form with small, thick and prominently reticulate- 

 veined leaves is found in south-western and western United States. The 

 tree grows particularly along river flats, rarely, if ever, forming groves 

 exclusive of other timber, or even of sufficient abundance to be generally 

 known by casual observers. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood rather heavy, coarse-grained, not very 

 hard or strong, compact, taking a good satiny polish, heart-wood 

 usually brown, of various shades, often quite dark; sap-wood light and oi 



*U. 8. Dispensatory, 15th ed., pp. 1487-8. 

 8 



