OF Ohio 



67 



SLIPPERY ELM 



Ulmus fulva, Michaux 



THE Slippery Elm, also called Red Elm and Moose Elm, 

 has been a well-known tree ever since the pioneer 

 hunters and early travellers learned that its bark has excel- 

 lent properties for quenching thirst and staying hunger. The 

 bark is still held in esteem for the treatment of throat 

 trouble, fevers and 

 inflammation. 



The leaves are 

 simple, alternate, 5 to 

 7 inches long, rough, 

 unequally based, 

 doubly toothed on 

 margin. 



The greenish 

 flowers appear early 

 in spring before the 

 leaves. They occur 

 in few-flowered clus- 

 ters along twigs. 



The fruit is a 

 small seed surround- 

 ed completely by a 

 thin, flat, membrane- 

 1 i k e wing. It is 

 about >2 of an inch 

 across and matures 

 shortly after the 

 flowers. 



The bark is dark 



brown tinged with red, becomes rough and furrowed. Inner 

 bark is slippery, fragrant, mucilaginous. The twigs are 

 grayish and rather rough when mature. The buds are dark 

 chestnut-brown, covered with about 12 hairy rusty-brown 

 scales. 



The wood is heavy, hard, tough, dark brown to red, 

 with light sapwood. It is used for barrels, agricultural 

 implements, posts, ties, novelties and many special uses. 



The Slippery Elm is found from the Valley of the St. 

 Lawrence, south to Florida and west to North Dakota and 

 Texas. It occurs throughout Ohio. The rich soils of the 

 lowlands, coves, and moist foothills are its favorite home. 



In addition to the two native elms, the English Elm 

 (Ulmus campestris, Linnaeus) has been planted locally 

 throughout Ohio. 



SLIPPERY ELM 



One-fourth natural size. 



Twig section, leaf-scar and flowers, enlarged. 



