Comparative wood anatomy of Wych Elm, English Elm, Caucasian Elm and Hackberry

In this investigation, anatomical characteristics of Iranian native woods from Ulmaceae family: Ulmus glabra, Ulmus carpinifolia, Zelkova carpinifolia, Celtis australis have been compared. These 4 woods are similar and have been used in Iranian historical buildings and their identification would be important. Among 4 species, Zelkova carpinifolia is somehow similar to Celtis australis while, Ulmus glabrar is close to Ulmus carpinifolia. Boundary cells of rays in Zelkova carpinifolia and Celtis australis are bigger than inside cells of rays. The difference between Zelkova carpinifolia and Celtis australis are in ray width. Ray width of Celtis australis is 7-8 cells, whereas Zelkova carpinifolia 5- 6 cells. The color of soluble (Glycerin + water) which have been used for softening of wood samples (2× 2 cm) for Zelkova carpinifolia got golden color but others grey. The difference between Ulmus glabra and Ulmus carpinifolia are in appearance of rays. The appearance of Ulmus carpinifolia’s ray is short and wide while ray of Ulmus glabrar is tall and slender. Meanwhile the frequency of rays in cross section of Ulmus carpinifolia is 6-8 per millimeter but in the case of Ulmus glabrar the figure is 4-5.