142 



THE ELM FAMILY. 



lanceolate, taper-pointed at the apex and rounded or slightly cordate at the base, 

 somewhat one-sided; entire, occasionally showing a few, sharp teeth; pin- 

 nately veined, bright green and glabrous on both sides ; thin. Flowers : axillary ; 

 the stanunate ones in clusters ; the fertile ones growing solitary and drooping 

 from the end of a slender pedicel. FntU : a small, globular drupe ; reddish, 

 sweet. 



Almost until the approach of winter the lively-looking foliage of this tree 

 remains on its boughs and so constitutes its chief charm, as in the late sea- 

 son it is seen growing through rich bottom lands, or less often dry soil 

 where gaunt and bare branches predominate. To the hackberry it is a 

 very similar tree although much less known and with a more restricted 

 range. In commerce its timber is confused with that of its relative. 



C. occidentdlis, hackberry, sugar berry, or false elm, is so appropriately 

 called, as often it is strongly suggestive of an old elm. Commonly it 

 attains to fine proportions, a number of individuals having been reported 

 which measure quite one hundred and twenty-five feet high. From an 

 elm, however, it can readily be distinguished, for its fruit is a globular drupe 

 instead of a dry samara. At maturity these drupes are nearly black, and 

 somewhat larger than those of the southern hackberry. Its leaves also 

 principally differ from those of that species in being sharply serrate. Few 

 trees are as widely distributed through North America, although in some 

 places, as New England, it occurs but seldom. Its indifference to soil 

 and climate, however, makes it present a number of forms. Often it grows 

 with the box-elders and red cedars when its presence is vigourous and 

 attractive. In cultivation its desirability seems to be comparatively little 

 appreciated, although, as the preceding species it retains its green foliage 

 until late in the season, 



A dwarf form exists, very like this species, which is called Celtis pumila. 



