Ulmaceae

  
 

 

Genera : 18

Species: 150

 

Genus directories:

Genus directories from dendrology:

Distribution: Widespread in north temperate and tropical regions.

 

Economic Uses: As a source of timber, as cultivated ornamentals and also used medicinally.

Defining Features of Interest: The family is divided into two subfamilies based on the characters of the leaf veins and fruits.

Fossil Evidence: Fossil pollen from the Upper Cretaceous and fossil wood from the Eocene

Defining Morphology

Floral Features : Actinomorphic and regular or unisexual and monoecious. Flowers are very small and borne in an inflorescence of axillary clusters. Hypogynous or perigynous. Apetalous.

Fruit and Seed Features : Fruit is a drupe, nut or samara . Seed has endosperm either present or lacking. Placentation is apical.

Vegetative Features : Habit is as trees or shrubs. Leaves are simple, alternate (rarely opposite), with oblique bases and prominant, pinnate veins. Stipules are present, but deciduous.