THE WYCH ELM. 



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calyx which bears a small bract at its base. Inside each petal, and 

 projecting beyond its tip, is a stamen with a purple-red pollen sack. 

 The centre of the floret is occupied by a pistil, which divides into 

 two carpels. Each floret is only about a quarter of an inch long. 

 Occasionally the florets are unisexual, containing either pistil or stamen, 

 but not both. The flowers of the Wych Elm appear later than 

 those of the common Elm. 



THE FRUIT. 



The clusters of fresh pale green fruits which take the place of 

 the flowers are well formed when the leaf buds are still lying 

 unopened. Each fruit consists of a thin, flat, membranous wing, 

 roughly oval or obovate in shape, with the end furthest from the 

 stalk slightly notched. In the centre of this disc, contained between 

 the papery layers of the wing, is the seed, which ripens in June in 

 great profusion ; only a small proportion is fertile. Elms begin to 

 produce seed about the thirteenth year of their growth. 



1M» 



Vf 



FRUITS OK WYCH ELM 

 (Natural Size). 



