11. ULMUS FULVA SLIPPERY ELM. 55 



A tree of good size, though not often over 100 ft. (30 m.) in height, 

 with a, trunk 3 ft. (0.91 m.) in diameter. 



HABITAT. Canada and United States generally, east of the Missis- 

 sippi river and south nearly or quite to the gulf coast. It is said to 

 reach its greatest development in the Ohio river basin. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood rather heavy, very strong and springy, 

 hard, compact; sap-wood, when well seasoned, nearly white; heart-wood 

 of a light reddish color, usually more or less mottled. Specific Gravity, 

 0.6543; Percentage of Ash, 0.42; Relative Approximate Fuel Value, 

 0.6516; Coefficient of Elasticity, 101668; Modulus of Rupture, 861; 

 Resistance to Longitudinal Pressure, 463; Resistance to Indentation, 

 171; Weight of a Cubic Foot in Pounds, 40.78. 



USES. A very useful timber in the manufacture of wheels, axles, 

 shafts, and frames for wagons, carriages and cutters, for agricultural 

 implements, oars, sweeps, etc., where great strength and stiffness or 

 springiness are required . 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. It is noted by Mr. Geo. B. Emerson* that 

 "an Ash leaf rubbed upon the swellings caused by mosquito bites and bee 

 stings will remove the itching and soreness immediately, and it is 

 reported by some that the leaf will also give relief in cases of snake bite. 

 A decoction of the leaves is said to be an antidote to the poison of lamb- 

 kill (Kalmia angustifolio), when taken by lambs." 



ORDER ULMACE^E:f ELM FAMILY. 



Leaves simple, alternate; stipules caducous. Flowers perfect or polygamous by 

 abortion, apetalous, in loose clusters, not catkins; calyx somewhat bell-shaped, free 

 from the ovary; stamens springing from the calyx, usually as many as its lobes and 

 opposite them; filaments straight, ovary 1-2-celled with a single suspended ovule in 

 each cell; styles or stigmas two. Fruit, a samara or drupe with suspended seed; 

 no albumen. 



Represented by trees, rarely shrubs. 



GENUS ULMUS, L. 



Leaves short-petioled, usually rather rough, markedly straight-veined, unequally 

 or obliquely heart-shaped or abrupt at the base; stipules small, caducous. Flowers 

 appearing before the leaves in our species, purplish or yellowish, apetalous, polyga- 

 mous, in lateral clusters or racemes; calyx 4-9-cleft; stamens 4-9, with long, slender 

 filaments; ovary 2-celled, or rarely 1-celled, compressed; styles 2, short and diverg- 

 ing. Fruit a samara with a broad, membranous margin, 1-celled by obliteration, 

 an,d 1-seeded; seed with no albumen, large cotyledons and straight embryo. 



(Ulmus is the ancient Latin name of the Elm.) 



ii. ULMUS FULVA, MICHX. 



SLIPPERY ELM, RED ELM, MOOSE ELM. 



Ger., Rothe Ulme; Fr., Orme gras; Sp., Olmo Colorado. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves ovate-oblong, taper-pointed, unequally cordate at 

 the base, rather irregularly doubly-serrate, very rough above and slightly rough 



Trees and Shrub- of Massachusetts, 2d ed.. 



* Trees ana shrub, of Massachusetts, 2d ed.. pp. ai'j-aau. 



t Ranked by some authors as a sub-order of the order Urticacece. 



