=4. Ulmus alàta= Michaux. Winged Elm. Plate 60. Small to medium sized
trees; bark rather closely fissured, grayish or reddish-brown, in
appearance like white elm; twigs hairy at first, generally remaining
more or less pubescent throughout the season, rarely becoming entirely
glabrous before the end of the season, a light brown gradually becoming
a gray-brown; branchlets usually begin to develop two thin narrow corky
ridges, becoming by the end of the second year 4-7 mm. thick, the year's
growth of corky layer a light brown, the older layers a darker brown,
the two main corky ridges are on opposite sides of the twigs, and
between these there are generally additional corky excrescences,
especially on the older branches; leaves oblong-lanceolate or oval, some
somewhat falcate, average blades 4-8 cm. long, pubescent on both sides
on unfolding, becoming at maturity glabrous or nearly so above, some are
rough above at maturity, remaining pubescent until maturity beneath;
petioles short, generally 2-3 mm. long, rarely 5 mm. or longer; fruit
ripening before or with the unfolding of the leaves; samara 6-10 mm.
long, pubescent on both faces.
=Distribution.=--Virginia west through southern Indiana to southern
Missouri, south to the Gulf and west to Texas. In Indiana it is confined
to the southwestern part of the State. Gorby's report for Miami should
be ignored. It has been reported as far north as Vigo and Monroe
Counties by Blatchley, and as far east as Clark County by Baird and
Taylor. The author has collected it in Crawford, Dubois, Martin, Orange,
Perry, Posey, Spencer and Warrick Counties.
The tree has two rather distinct habitats. In the hill counties it is
found on the sides of cliffs, steep slopes or on the top of the ridges
with such species as the black, chestnut and scarlet oaks and chestnut.
In this habitat it is usually a small scrubby tree with an excessive
number of side branches. Such specimens usually have the corky ridges
well developed on all of the branches and the tree presents a weird
appearance. The second habitat is in the hard clay flats of the
southwestern counties. In Warrick County along Big Pigeon Creek west of
Boonville I measured a specimen 21 dm. in circumference and I estimated
the clear bole at 8 m. It was associated with sweet gum, black gum,
white elm, red birch, red oak, etc. It is found throughout this county
both in the "flats" and on the sandy ridges. In Posey County it is a
frequent tree in the low woods about 10 miles southwest of Mt. Vernon.
In these woods it acquires a diameter of 3-6 dm. and is associated with
post oak, Spanish oak, sweet gum, shingle oak, etc. It is to be noted
that specimens that grow in these conditions and those that acquire a
large size do not develop such conspicuous corky branches. A large tree
over 6 dm. in diameter was noted in the eastern part of Gibson County
growing in low sandy soil which was destitute of corky branches so far
as could be seen from the ground. All of the branches examined were free
from corky ridges, and only a few corky excrescences were present. The
specimen could easily be identified by the leaves. Another large tree 12
dm. in circumference in a black oak woods 4 miles south of Marengo in
Crawford County was also free from corky ridges.
This is an interesting tree and requires further study to establish its
range in Indiana and to learn its habits. In Jasper, Indiana, it is a
frequent shade tree. No doubt the trees were obtained from a nearby
woods along the Patoka River where this species is known to occur.
=2. CÉLTIS.= The Hackberries.
Trees with pith of branchlets chambered; flowers in Indiana species
appear before the leaves, the leaves generally with 3 primary veins at
the base; staminate flowers usually in clusters, the pistillate solitary
or few together in the axils of the leaves, and near the end of the
twigs; fruit a globose drupe, sometimes elongated, pulp thin and sweet,
frequently remaining on the tree until late winter, relished by birds;
stone bony, wrinkled.
Some of the American species of hackberry are very variable. The habitat
of the species varies from deep swamps to arid rocky slopes. In fact, a
single species as now understood may have a variable habitat. The
following variations may be noted on the same tree or on different trees
of the same species. The twigs may be glabrous, or pubescent; the leaves
may vary in size, shape and texture, leaf margin, and in the roughness
or smoothness of the surfaces; the petioles may be smooth or hairy; the
pedicels may be glabrous or pubescent, shorter or longer than the
petioles; the fruit also varies in shape. Leaves have been seen on the
same tree which were smooth above, while others were quite rough above,
the difference being due to the exposure to light.
The original descriptions of the species are too short to sufficiently
characterize the species, which adds to the confusion. However, C. S.
Sargent[45] has recently revised the species and varieties of our area.
Prof. Sargent has examined and named all of my material for me. Mr. B.
F. Bush, who has extensively studied the hackberries in the field, also
has examined my specimens.
The writer has paid special attention to the hackberries of the State
for the past few years and is still in doubt as to the status of the
species that occur in the State. Since I am not following the
determinations made by Sargent and Bush, and am following the
nomenclature of the first edition, I regard the present treatment as
tentative only.
Margins of all the leaves sharply serrate all around
except at base; nutlets 6-8 mm. long 1 C. occidentalis.
Margins of leaves of fruiting branches generally entire,
or some with a few teeth on one side or with a few
teeth on both sides; margins of the leaves of
vegetative branches and shoots similar to those of
fruiting branches or with the margins serrate nearly
all around; nutlets 5-6 mm. long.
Leaves of a rather broad ovate type; mature fruit a
dark cherry-red; usually shrubs, sometimes very
small trees, of a dry habitat 2 C. pumila.
Leaves of an ovate-lanceolate type; mature fruit a
light cherry-red; medium-sized trees of a wet
habitat 3 C.
mississippiensis.
[Illustration: Plate 61.