Ulmaceae

Ulmaceae
Ulmus laciniata.jpg
Ulmus laciniata
Morton Arboretum acc. 180-84-1
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Ulmaceae
Mirb. 1815
Type species
Ulmus
L. 1753
Genera
Ulmaceae Distribution.svg
The range of Ulmaceae.
Synonyms
  • Samaracaceae Dulac

The Ulmaceae (/ʌlˈmeɪsi/) are a family of flowering plants that includes the elms (genus Ulmus), and the zelkovas (genus Zelkova). Members of the family are widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone, and have a scattered distribution elsewhere except for Australasia.

The family was formerly sometimes treated to include the hackberries, (Celtis and allies), but an analysis by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group suggests that these genera are better placed in the related family Cannabaceae. It generally is considered to include ca 7 genera and about 45 species. Some classifications also include the genus Ampelocera.

Description

The family is a group of evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs with mucilaginous substances in leaf and bark tissue. Leaves are usually alternate on the stems. The leaf blades are simple (not compound), with entire (smooth) or variously toothed margins, and often have an asymmetrical base. The flowers are small and either bisexual or unisexual. The fruit is an indehiscent samara, nut, or drupe.

Uses

Ulmus provides important timber trees mostly for furniture.

Phylogeny

Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:

Cannabaceae (outgroup)

Ulmaceae

Holoptelea

Ampelocera

Hemiptelea

Zelkova

Ulmus


This page was last updated at 2023-03-13 10:13 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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