483 CXVI. ULMACE^E. ULMUS. 



nate with the calyx lobes ; anth. subsessile ; sty. short ; fruit baccate, 

 consisting of the achenium enclosed in the dry, farinaceous calyx tube, 

 marked with 8 furrows. Trees or shrubs^ cultivated for the silvery foli- 

 age. Leaves alternate. 



1. E. ARGENTEA. Silver-leaved Oleaster. 



Lvs. broad-ovate or oval, wavy, acutish at each end, both surfaces, par- 

 ticularly the lower, silvery and shining with ferruginous scales. Missouri, 

 &c. A beautiful shrub, with reddish branches and small, roundish-ovate, carti- 

 laginous drupes, -f 



2. E. ANGUSTIPOLIA. Narrow-leaved Oleaster. Lvs. narrow-lanceolate, acute 

 at each end, entire, alternate, smooth, canescent ; fls. axillary, aggregate. A 

 tree of middle size from Europe, cultivated for its beautiful foliage and fine 

 fruit, which, " when dried, resembles an oblong plum with a reddish skin and 

 a flavor similar to that of a date." 



3. E. LATIFOLIA. Broad-leaved Oleaster. Lvs. ovate, evergreen. E. India, f 



ORDEH CXVI. ULMACEJE. ELMWORTS. 



Trees and shrubs with alternate, simple, deciduous leaves. 



Stip. 2 at the base of each leaf, deciduous. 



Fls. sometimes by abortion dioecious, in loose clusters, never in catkins. 



Cal. free from the ovary, campariulate, 4 5-cleft, imbricate in aestivation. 



Sta. inserted on the base of the calyx, as many as its lobes and opposite to them. 



Ova. 1 2-celled. Ovules solitary. Stig'tnas 2, distinct. 



Fr. indehiscent, either a samara or drupe, l-celled ; 1-seeded. 



Seed pendulous, without albumen. Cotyledons fohaceous. 



Genera 9, species 60, natives of the northern temperate zone. The mucilaginous bark of the slippery 

 elm (Ulmus fulva) is the only important medicinal product. Several of the elms afford excellent timber. 



Genera. 



Flowers all perfect. Calyx 4 5-cleft. Fruit samarae Ulmus. 1 



Flowers polygamous. Calyx of sterile fl. 6-parted. Fruit a drupe Celtte. 2 



1. ULMUS. 



From elm, its original name in-Anglo-Saxon, Teutonic, Gothic, and other Celtic dialects. 



Flowers $ Calyx campanulate, 4 5-cleft ; stamens 5 8 ; styles 

 2 ; samara compressed, with a broad, membranaceous border. Trees, 

 rarely shrubs. Lvs. retroi'sely scabrous, often abrupt at base. Fls. fas- 

 ciculate^ appearing before the leaves. 



1. U.AMERICANA. American Elm. White Elm. 



Lvs. ovate, acuminate, serrate, unequal at the base; fls. pedicelled ; fr. fim- 

 briate. This majestic tree is common in the Northern, Middle and Western 

 States. It is a native of the forest, but often grows spontaneously in open fields, 

 where it is readily distinguished by its long, pendulous branches. The trunk, 

 with a diameter of 3 5f, towers to the height of 30, 50, and even 70f, perfectly 

 straight and naked, when it divides into 2 or more primary branches. These 

 ascend, gradually spreading, and repeatedly dividing into other long, flexible 

 limbs bending in broad, graceful curves. It is a great favorite as a shade tree, 

 and is frequently seen rearing its stately form and casting its deep shade over 

 the " sweet homes" of New England. Leaves short-stalked, oval-acuminate, 

 doubly denticulate, and 4 5' long. The veins are quite regular and promi- 

 nent. Flowers small, purplish, collected into small, terminal clusters, and 

 appearing in April, before the leaves. Fruit flat, fringed with a dense down. 

 The wood is tough and strong, but not easily wrought; used for the naves of 

 wheels, &c. 



2. U. FULVA. Slippery Elm. Red Elm. 



Branches rough ; Ivs. oblong-ovate, acuminate, nearly equal at base, une- 

 qually serrate, pubescent both sides, very rough ; buds covered with fulvous 

 down ; fls. sessile. Woods and low grounds, N. Eng. to Car. The slippery 

 elm is much sought on account of the mucilage of the inner bark. Its diam- 

 eter is 1 2f, and height 20 40. The leaves are larger, thicker and rougher 

 than those of the white elm, and exhale a pleasant odor. Flowers collected at 



