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Zelkova (after the vernacular name Zelkoua in Crete, or Selkwa in the Caucasus). Syn., Abelicea, and including Hemiptelea. Ulmaceae. Ornamental trees grown for their handsome foliage and attractive habit.
Deciduous: lvs. alternate, short-petioled, penninerved, serrate, stipulate: fls. polygamous, the perfect ones solitary in the axils of the upper lvs., the staminate ones clustered in the axils of lower lvs. or bracts; calyx 4-5-lobed; stamens 4-5; styles 2: fr. a 1-seeded drupe, usually broader than high, oblique, with the style eccentric. —Five species in Crete, the Caucasus, and E. Asia. They are closely related to Celtis and Aphananthe and are chiefly distinguished by the connate sepals, the eccentric style and the oblique fr. Z. serrata is an important timber tree; the wood is very durable, and considered the best building material in Japan. The young wood is yellowish white in color; the old wood is dark brown and has a beautiful grain.
The zelkovas are trees, sometimes shrubby, in general appearance much like some of the small-leaved elms, with rather small more or less two-ranked short-stalked leaves, with insignificant greenish flowers appearing at the base of the young branches and followed by inconspicuous fruits. Z. serrata, and Z. Davidii are hardy North, while Z. ulmoides is hardy only as far north as Massachusetts, at least only in sheltered positions. Z. serrata is a very graceful round-headed tree and well adapted for avenues or as single specimens on the lawn. Z. Davidii, which is of recent introduction, may be useful as a hedge-plant on account of its upright rather stiff stems armed with spines. They do not seem to be very particular as to soil and position. Propagation is by seeds sown soon after ripening; also by layers and by grafting on Ulmus.
Z. sinica, Schneid. Allied to Z. hirta. Tree, to 50ft.: lvs. ovate-oblong, rounded or broadly cuneate at the base, firm, crenate serrate, 3/4 - 2 in. long. Cent. China.—Z. Verschaffeltii, Nichols. (Ulmus Verschaffeltii, Hort. Z. japonica Verschaffeltii, Dipp.). Shrub or small tree, allied to Z. ulmoides: lvs. oval or ovate, with 6-9 coarse triangular teeth on each side, rough above, with soft hairs beneath, 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 in. long. Origin not known, possibly from the Caucasus.
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| name = ''Zelkova''
| name = ''Zelkova''