Tin Trees of Texas 97 



of our area are not so large and ornamental as the trees grow- 

 ing in the northeastern states. 



The wood is hard, tough, flexible, and difficult to split. It 

 is used for agricultural implements, hubs, crates, staves, and 

 heading. It is also used extensively in furniture making, as 

 it takes stains very well. The tree has been a great favorite 

 for shade tree planting. It grows rapidly. The American elm 

 is one of our most beautiful native trees, and its planting 

 should be encouraged. 



4. Ulmus fulva .Michaux. Slippery Elm. Red Elm. A 

 forest tree 60-70 high with trunk diameter sometimes reach- 

 ing 2 '-, usually smaller. The branches spread to form a broad 

 open flat-topped crown. Bark deeply fissured, reddish brown, 

 the inner layer fragrant and mucilaginous. Leaves ovate- 

 oblong, 4'-6' long, coarsely doubly serrate, rounded on one 

 side at base, oblique on the other, thick dark green, very 

 rough aboA r e, more or less pubescent beneath. The flowers 

 appear before the leaves in the early spring and the fruit 

 ripens when the leaves are about one-half their mature size. 



Quebec to Florida, v est to North, Dakota, Nebraska and 

 Texas. It extends to the valley of the San Antonio River. 



The wood is hard, strong, light, durable when exposed in 

 the soil. It is used for cross ties, fence posts and otherwise 

 as Ulmus Americana. 



2. PLANERA Gmelin. Planer Tree. 



Planer aquatica Gmelin. A small tree 30 -40 high and 

 20' in diameter with low broad crown and slender branches. 

 Bark thin, about 14 ', light brown, falling away in large scales. 

 Leaves ovate-oblong, rounded or unequally wedge-shaped at 

 base, pointed or rounded at the apex, toothed, 2 / -2% / long, 

 %'-!' wide, dark green above, paler below. Flowers of two 

 kinds, the stamen bearing or staminate are borne on wood of 

 the previous year, the pistil bearing or pistillate in the axils 

 of leaves of the current season. The fruit is a nut-like struct- 

 ure covered with elongated projections, ripening in the spring. 

 The tree resembles the elms, but may be readily distinguished 

 by the fruit. 



7 Tree-. 



