Knowra Ulmaceae Ulmaceae Ulmaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes elms and their close relatives. Its members are mainly trees and shrubs native to temperate and tropical regions.
Ulmus : A genus of deciduous trees commonly known as elms, native to the Northern Hemisphere. Ulmus contains the familiar elms that give this family its name and much of its recognition.
Wind pollination : The transfer of pollen between flowers by air currents rather than animal pollinators. Elm flowers release pollen into the air, often before the leaves emerge.
American elm : A large North American elm, Ulmus americana, historically planted widely as a street and shade tree. Its arching crown made it a signature tree of North American streets before Dutch elm disease.
Moraceae : A flowering-plant family that includes figs, mulberries, breadfruit, and paper mulberry. Moraceae is a nearby Rosales family whose flowers and fruits invite comparison with elms.
Plant systematics : The study of plant diversity and the evolutionary relationships used to classify plants. Molecular evidence has repeatedly reshaped the recognized limits of Ulmaceae.
Celtis : A genus of flowering trees and shrubs commonly known as hackberries or nettle trees. Celtis is another prominent genus traditionally included in Ulmaceae.
Flower : The reproductive structure of flowering plants, typically containing organs that produce gametes and seeds. Ulmaceae reproduces through flowers, although elm flowers are small and inconspicuous.
Dutch elm disease : A fungal disease of elms spread by bark beetles, caused by fungi in the genus Ophiostoma. The disease devastated elm populations and transformed the use of elms in cities.
Urticaceae : A family of flowering plants that includes nettles, pellitory, and ramie. Urticaceae is another member of Rosales with which Ulmaceae shares broader relationships.
Phylogenetics : The study of evolutionary relationships among organisms using inherited characteristics and molecular data. Phylogenetic analyses determine which genera belong within Ulmaceae and its neighboring families.
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