580 



ULMACE.E. 



[Perigynous Exogens. 



Order CCXXI. ULMACEM.— Elmworts. 



TJlmaceae, Mirbel Ettm. 905. (1815) ; Lindl. Synops. 225 ; Endl. Gen. xc; Meisn. Gen. p 351.— Celtidefe 

 Rich., Gaudich. in Freyc. Voy. 507. (1826) ; Endl. Gen. xci.; Meisner Gen. p. 348. 



Diagnosis. — Hlmmncd Exogens, with apetalous flowers, an ovary composed of 2 carpels, an 

 imperfect calyx irregularly divided at the edge, and thin and leafy cotyledons. 



Trees or shrubs, with rough, alternate, usually deciduous leaves, each having a pair 

 of deciduous stipules at its base. Flowers sometimes by abortion <j> $ , in loose clus- 

 ters, never in catkins. Calyx membranous, imbricated, campanulate, inferior, irregular. 



Petals 0. Stamens definite, inserted into the 

 base of the calyx, erect in aestivation. Ovary 

 superior or 2-celled ; ovules solitary, pendulous, 

 anatropal, or amphitropal ; stigmas 2, distinct. 

 Fruit 1- or 2-celled, indehiscent, membranous 

 or drupaceous. Seed solitary, pendulous ; al- 

 bumen none, or in very small cjuantity; embryo 

 straight or curved, with foliaceous cotyledons ; 

 radicle superior. 



The plants of which Elm trees are the repre- 

 sentatives assume two appearances, which have 

 led Botanists into the opinion that they consti- 

 tute two distinct Natural Orders. Of these the 

 Nettle-trees, or Celteae, have a hard fleshy fruit 

 composed of a single carpel and amphitropal 

 ovules, while the true Elms or Ulmeae have a 

 membranous fruit and anatropal ovules. They 

 are, however, so much alike in most other 

 circumstances, that it seems better to regard 

 them as mere forms of one type, more especially 

 since it seems, from the presence of two stigmas, 

 that even the Celteae themselves are really fur- 

 nished with two carpels. It is very unusual to 

 place Elmworts at a distance from Nettleworts, but I confess that their affinity seems 

 to be much stronger with Rhamnads, of which they have the exact seed. 



Natives of the North of Asia, the mountains of India, China, North America, and 

 Europe ; in the latter of which countries they form valuable timber-trees. 



The inner bark of the Elm is slightly bitter and astringent, demulcent, and diuretic ; 

 it has been used in some skin diseases, but it does not appear to possess any important 

 quality. The substance which exudes spontaneously from it is called Ulmin ; this is also 

 found in the Oak, Chesnut, and other trees, and, according to Berzelius, is a constituent 

 of most kinds of bark. Elm wood is soft, tough, and coarse, but useful for many 

 rough purposes, especially for water-pipes buried in the ground. The wood of Plauera 

 Abelicea, the Pseudosantalum creticum of the old Pharmacopoeias, is aromatic. The 

 young branches of Celtis australis are boiled, and the infusion is used against dysentery 

 and blenorrhoea ; the fruit is sweetish, and rather astringent ; the kernel yields a 

 useful oil. The drupes of Celtis occidentalis, the Nettle-tree or Sugar-berry, are admi- 

 nistered in the United States in dysentery. The root, bark, and leaves of Celtis orien- 

 tals are somewhat aromatic, and are employed among eastern nations as a remedy for 

 epilepsy. 



GENERA. 



Fig. CCCXCIII. 



I. Ckvtsm. — Ovary one- 

 celled ; ovules amphi- 

 tropal. 



Celtis, Tournef. 



Sponia, Commcrs. 



Solenosligma, Endl. 

 Mertensia, H. B. K. 



Parasponia, Miq. 



II. Ulme;e.— Ovary two- 

 celled ; ovules anatro- 

 pal. 



Planera, Gmel. 



Abelicea, Hon. Belli. 



Zelkova, Spach. 

 Euptelea, Zucc. 

 Microptelea, Spach. 

 Ulmus, Linn. 



Numbers. Gen. 9. Sp. 60. 



Urticacece. 

 Position. — Rhamnacese. — Ulmace.e. — Penoaacece. 



TltymelacccB. 



Kig. CCCXCIII.— Ulmus campestris.— Nccs. 1 . its flower ; 2. its pistil ; 3. its fruit ; 4. its embryo. 



