Celtis
(name used by Pliny for the Lotus). Nettle-tree. ORD. Urticaceoe. A genus of rather large, hardy, deciduous trees or shrubs, with greenish fascicled or racemose flowers, small one-seeded drupaceous fruit, and strongly-nerved, simple, alternate leaves. They thrive in ordinary soil, and are very suitable for the back of a shrubbery. Increased by seeds, which should be sown as soon as ripe; by layers; and by cuttings or ripened shoots, in autumn. The stove species are not worth growing.
C. australis (Southern). fl. greenish, solitary. May. l. ovate-lanceolate, oblong-lanceolate, or acuminate, argutely serrated, unequal at the base; upper surface rough, under one downy. h. 30ft. to 40ft. South Europe, 1796. (W. D. B. 105.) C. cordata (cordate). Synonymous with C. crassifolia. C. crassifolia (thick-leaved).* American Hackberry. fl. greenish; peduncle slender, one or two-flowered. May. l. rather leathery, cordate, auricled, and unequal at the base, 6in. long, 3in. to 4in. broad, serrated, rough on both surfaces. h. 20ft. to 30ft. North America, 1812. SYN. C. cordata. C. Davidiana (Rev. Father David's). l. elliptic, narrowed to both ends, irregularly toothed, thick, coriaceous, glabrous, deep glaucous-green above, light green beneath. China, 1864. A much-branched tree, with pendulous twigs. C. occidentalis (Western).* North American Nettle-tree. fl. greenish, small. May. l. reticulated, ovate-acuminate, unequal at the base, serrate, rough on the upper surface, hairy on the under one. h. 30ft. to 50ft. Canada, 1656. (W. D. B. 147.) C. o. pumila (dwarf). A dwarf form, seldom exceeding 8ft. in height, with more membranous (at length) glabrous leaves.
C. Tournefortii (Tournefort's). fl. greenish. l., when adult, ovate, acute, unequal at base, crenately serrated, roughish on the upper surface; when young, subcordate at the base. h. 10ft. to 12ft. Armenia, 1738.