Zelkova is a
genus of six species of
deciduous trees in the elm family
Ulmaceae, native to southern
Europe, and southwest and eastern
Asia. They vary in size from
shrubs (
Z. sicula) to large trees up to tall (
Z. carpinifolia). The
leaves are alternate, with serrated margins, and (unlike the related
elms) a symmetrical base to the leaf blade. The
fruit is a dry,
nut-like
drupe, produced singly in the leaf axils.