Zelkova serrata

Taxobox
name = "Zelkova serrata"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Noma Keyaki", a 1,000-year old Keaki in Nose near Osaka in Japan, 25 m tall, 11.95 m trunk circumference; second-largest known specimenOsaka Toyono County: [http://www.guitar-mg.co.jp/title_buck/27/noma_keyaki/noma_ohkeyaki_2.htm Noma Keyaki] (in Japanese; [http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eguitar%2dmg%2eco%2ejp%2ftitle%5fbuck%2f27%2fnoma%5fkeyaki%2fnoma%5fohkeyaki%5f2%2ehtm google translation] )]
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Rosales
familia = Ulmaceae
genus = "Zelkova"
species = "Z. serrata"
binomial = "Zelkova serrata"
binomial_authority = (Thunb.) Makino

"Zelkova serrata" (Keyaki or Japanese Zelkova; Korean: 느티나무 "neutinamu"; Japanese: ケヤキ "keyaki"; Chinese: 榉树 "ju shu") is a species of "Zelkova" native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan.Flora of China: [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242355642 "Zelkova serrata"] ] Andrews, S. (1994). Tree of the year: Zelkova. "Int. Dendrol. Soc. Yearbook" 1993: 11-30.]

It is a medium-sized to large deciduous tree growing to 20-35 m tall, with a trunk up to 2 m (exceptionally 4 m) diameter with smooth grey bark, becoming flaky and browner on old trees. The branches are numerous, usually strongly ascending from a short trunk to give a high domed crown. The leaves are alternate, 3-11 cm long and 1.3-7 cm broad with a 2–7 mm petiole; hairless or finely hairy both above and below; the margin is sharply serrated with 8–16 teeth on each side. The autumn colour is orange to red. The flowers are 1.5 mm diameter, inconspicuous and yellowish-green with no petals, and are wind-pollinated. The fruit is a small nut-like dry drupe 2.5-3.5 mm diameter with a ridged surface.

There are two varieties, "Zelkova serrata" var. "serrata" in Japan and mainland eastern Asia, and "Zelkova serrata" var. "tarokoensis" (Hayata) Li on Taiwan; the latter differs from the type in its smaller leaves with less deeply cut serration on the margins.

The Japanese name, 木　means tree 挙げる means lift up hand, so a big tree that grows like a raised hand is the meaning of 欅.

Cultivation and uses

It is often grown as an ornamental tree, both in its native area and in Europe and North America. The first cultivation outside of Asia was by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who introduced it to the Netherlands in 1830.

Numerous cultivars have been selected, including 'Fuiri Keaki' (variegated leaves), 'Goblin' (dwarf), 'Goshiki' (variegated leaves), 'Green Vase' (tall, narrow crown [ [http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_green_vase_zelkova.htm "Zelkova serrata" 'Green Vase'] photos] ), 'Green Veil' (pendulous branchlets), 'Iruma Sango' (fastigiate), 'Nire Keaki' (semi-dwarf), 'Pulverulenta' (variegated leaves), 'Spring Grove' (upright crown), 'Variegata' (variegated leaves), 'Village Green' (fast-growing, straight trunk, vase-shaped crown [ [http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_village_green_zelkova.htm "Zelkova serrata" 'Village Green'] photos] ), and 'Urban Ruby' (red autumn colour). It has also hybridised with "Zelkova carpinifolia" in Europe, the hybrid being named "Zelkova × verschaffeltii".

Keaki wood is valued in Japan and used often for furniture, such as tansu.

The tree is a symbol of Saitama Prefecture.

References