Zelkova serrata

COMMON NAME: Japanese Zelkova

FAMILY: Elm Family; Ulmaceae

GROWTH HABIT: Young trees, a low branched, vase-shaped tree; in old age maintaining a similar form with many ascending branches.

FOLIAGE: Alternate, simple, deciduous. Ovate to oblong-ovate, 1 1/4 - 2 in. long, or on shoots to 5 in. long, 3/4 - 2 in. wide, acuminate or apiculate, rounded or subcordate at base, sharply serrate with acuminate teeth, with 8 - 14 pairs of veins, dark green and somewhat rough above; petioles 1/12 - 1/5 in. long.

BUDS: ovoid, acutish, with many imbricate, dark brown, broad scales; diver at 45 degrees angle from stem.

BARK: Young stems - reddish brown, heavily lenticelled; older stems often exfoliating.

FLOWERS: Male flowers clustered in axils of lower leaves; females in axils of upper leaves. Not showy; flowers in April.

FRUIT: A small droop, about 1/6 in. across, ripening in fall.

NATIVE HABITAT: Japanese, Korea.