fine hubs thanks to its durability. It dents when other timbers split. 
Prehistoric peoples used it for making such weapons as swords, javelins, 
spears, and shields (for which resistance to splitting has obvious advan- 
tages). It also served to make chariots, as well as bows with which to 
shoot arrows from the chariots. From the tough inner bark a coarse 
cheesecloth was woven. 
The stately Scotch elm can grow to 100 feet tall. The large, low 
branches (compare these with the arms on the angel to the right of the tree 
by Tower Grove House) and large leaves broadest above the middle are 
characteristic. Disadvantages of this species in landscaping are suscepti- 
bilities to the Dutch Elm Disease and to insect pests. 
The common name wych is an ancient Anglo-Saxon word for a tree 
with flexible branches, and it appears in the common names of other trees 
and shrubs. Wych elm evolved into “witch elm”, a big spooky tree, and 
the species worked its way into Halloween-type lore this way. 
Likewise outstanding among the Garden’s elms are the Chinese elms 
(Ulmus parvifolia). The striking feature of this native of China, Korea, and 
Japan is its mottled, multicolored bark. Other positive features are 
freedom from disease (including Dutch Elm Disease), toleration of 
pollution and varied soils, and rapid growth. On the negative side, 
Chinese elms tend to break apart when burdened with snow, ice, and 
strong winds. 
The horticulturally inferior and sometimes weedy species more ap- 
propriately called Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) is often incorrectly called 
Chinese elm. While the two have similar small leaves, the Chinese elm 
forms its waferlike fruits in the autumn (vs. spring for Siberian elm) and 
has brown (vs. black) winter buds, fuzzier twigs, thicker leaves, and fancy 
mottled bark upon reaching a certain age. 
Ulmus is the ancient Latin name for elms. Glabra means “hairless”, 
and parvifolia means “little-leaved”. 
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