Belonging to the elm family (Ulmaceae) the genus Zelkova contains six species of trees and shrubs from Europe and Asia, most of which are grown for their ornamental value. They are distinct from the elms (Ulmus) in that they lack winged fruits and their leaves are without oblique bases. All have inconspicuous male or hermaphrodite flowers in spring, and alternate, toothed, ovate-obovate leaves. Zelkova serrata is a native of Taiwan, eastern China and Japan, where it is an important forest tree reaching 30m in height, and 18m in diameter, and from where it was introduced by the Veitch nursery in 1861. It has smooth grey bark, and the narrow serrated leaves have a rough texture and produce peach, orange and yellow tones in autumn. Here it has matured to be a fine specimen since planting in 1960.