94 Native Trees of Canada 



than those of the white elm and very much more mucilaginous. The scars left 

 by the leaves are more conspicuous. 



The winter buds differ considerably from those of the other elms, and are 

 one of the easiest means of distinguishing it. They have a heavy covering of red- 

 dish-bro\vn hair, while those of the rocl^ elm are as a rule only fringed with hair 

 along the margin of the scales, and those of the white elm are smooth. They are 

 larger, rounder, and softer looking than those of the latter species. 



The roughness of the leaves is another feature by which this tree is readily 

 distinguished from the other elms; they are not only rougher to the touch but 

 rough whichever way they are rubbed. Those of the white elm are rough only one 

 way. The leaves of the red elm are, on the whole, larger than those of the other 

 elms. 



The wing surrounding the seed is larger and somewhat more nearly circular 

 in outline than that of the white elm. The margin is hairless while that of the 

 white has a hairy fringe. 



The wood of the red, or slippery, elm is the poorest in quality of the three native 

 species. It is soft, coarse-grained, and liable to mechanical defects, and is not 

 used in any quantity in any of the industries. 



ULMUS AMERICANA, Linn. WHITE ELM 



Common names: White elm, American elm, water elm, swamp 



elm, rock elm*. 

 French names: Orme blanc, orme d'Amerique. 



The white elm is one of our largest and most stately trees, having a height of 

 50 to 125 ft., and a trunk diameter of 2 to 7 ft. In the forest it rises to a consider- 

 able height before branching, but growing in the open field it divides comparatively 

 close to the ground into two or three main branches, which gradually spread out 

 forming a high triangular or fan-like crown with branchlets more or less drooping. 



It thrives best in rich, moist, well-drained soils, and is found growing singly 

 or in mixture with other hardwoods. Its range in Canada extends from Nova 

 Scotia to Saskatchewan, south of the height of land dividing the watershed of 

 Hudson bay from that of the Great Lakes. 



The bark is dark grey and roughened with broad, flat- topped, flaky ridges. 

 Looking at the side of a ridge it shows an occasional layer of whitish bark. This 

 characteristic distinguishes it readily from the red, or slippery, elm. 



The twigs are brownish, slender, smooth, and slightly mucilaginous if chewed. 



The winter buds are a light reddish-brown, conical, and pointed. They are 

 smooth and have not the hairiness of the red elm. 



The leaves are from 4 to 6 in. long, and uneven-based, giving them a lop-sided 

 appearance. The underside is soft and hairy. The red elm on the contrary is 

 rough to the touch. The veining is coarse. 



It flowers in April and seeds abundantly in May and June. 



