Ulmaceae

(including Celtidaceae)

Elm Family

By: George Rogers

A small family of about 15 genera and 150 species with approximately 11 species native to Florida. Three species are cultivated, all of them infrequently, in our area. Ulmaceae are trees or shrubs having alternate, usually serrate (to entire) leaves with lopsided bases. Elms have coin-sized wafer fruits; hackberries have pea-sized drupes (stone fruits).

Key to Ulmaceae Cultivated in South Florida (some data from WU1, BA1)

1. Fruits pea-sized, with a thin later of flesh and a large stone; leaves coarsely serrate to entire…Hackberry (Celtis laevigata Willd.) (Nettletree, Trema micranthum (L.) Blume, is a related native tree with the leaves pubescent (vs. glabrous) beneath, the blades evenly serrate-crenate, and the fruits in short branched cymes borne along the stem (vs. solitary or simple cymes).

1. Fruits flat wafers…2

2. Leaf blades once-serrate, to 2.5” long…Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.)

2. Leaf blades doubly serrate, > 3” long…American Elm (Ulmus americana L.)