NETTLE FAMILY. 



293 



tolerable substitute for hay. The tree being smaller, and the branches 

 straggling, it does not answer for a shade tree so well as the preceding. 

 Besides these species, IT, racemo'sa, Thomas, the Corky White Elm, 

 with racemed flowers and the bark often with corky ridges, is found in 

 the North and West ; and U, ala'ta, MX., the Winged Elm, or Wa- 

 hoo, with small leaves and corky-winged branches, at the South and 

 South-west. U. CAMPES'TRIS, L., the English Elm, is frequently culti- 

 vated. It is a less graceful tree than our American Elm, having more 

 the sturdy habit of an oak. Its wood is very valuable, as it is not 

 liable to split or warp. 



2. CEL'TIS, Tournef. NETTLE-TREE. 



[An ancient name of the Lotus ; applied to this genus .] 



Flowers monoeciously polygamous. Calyx 5 - 6-parted, persistent. Sta- 

 mens as many as the sepals. Ovary ovoid, 1-celled, with a single sus- 

 pended ovule ; stigmas 2, elongated, recurved. Drupe globose/ fleshy, 

 smooth, 1-seeded. Cotyledons conduplicate, enclosing a scanty gelati- 

 nous central albumen. Flowers axillary, solitary or in pairs, dull, green- 

 ish-yellow. 



1. C. occidenta'lis, L. Leaves obliquely ovate, acuminate, serrate ; 

 fruit on a peduncle once or twice the length of the petiole, reddish or 

 yellow, turning dark purple at maturity. 



FIG. 184. Flowers of the Nettle-tree (Celtis occidentals) . 185. Fruit and developed 

 leaves, a. An enlarged flower opened to show the embryo. 



