Japanese Zelkova (
Zelkova serrata'Green Vase')
DBH: 85.52 (cm) measured on 02/25/2022
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zelkova serratais a medium-sizeddeciduoustree usually growing to 30m (98ft) tall. It is characterized by a short trunk dividing into many upright and erect spreading stems forming a broad, round-topped head. The tree grows rapidly when young though the growth rate slows to medium upon middle age and maturity.[5]
It has alternately arranged leaves growing to 5cm long and broad. The leaves themselves are simple andovateto oblong-ovate with serrated or crenate margins, to which the tree owes itsspecific epithetserrata. The leaves areacuminateorapiculate, rounded orsubcordateat the base, and contain 8-14 pairs of veins. The leaves are rough on top andglabrousor nearly glabrous on the underside. They are green to dark green in spring and throughout the summer, changing to yellows, oranges and reds in autumn. Thepetiolesare 2–5mm (1⁄16–3⁄16in) long.[6]
Zelkova serrataismonoecious. It develops flowers in spring with the leaves. Buds are ovoid, acutish, with manyimbricate, dark brown scales.[5]They diverge at a 45 degree angle from the stem. Thestaminateflowers are shortlypedicellateand approximately 3mm in diameter, clustered in theaxilsof the lower leaves. Thepistillateflowers are solitary or few in axils of the upper leaves,sessileand usually about 1.5mm in diameter. The flowers are yellow-green, not showy, and occur in tight groups along new stems. They give rise to small, ovate, winglessdrupesthat ripen in late summer to autumn. The drupe is green maturing to brown, subsessile and 2.5 to 3.5mm (3⁄32to1⁄8in) in diameter.
To identifyZelkova serrata, one would look for a short main trunk, low branching and a vase-shaped habit. The twigs are slender with small, dark conical buds in a zigzag pattern. The branches are usually glabrous. The bark is grayish white to grayish brown and either smooth withlenticelsor exfoliating in patches to reveal orange inner bark. The branchlets are brownish-purple to brown.