ULMUS AMERICANA, L. 95 



ULMACE^E. ELM FAMILY. 



Ulmus Americana, L. 

 ELM. AMERICAN ELM. WHITE ELM. 



Habitat and Range. Low, moist ground; thrives especially 

 on rich intervales. 



From Cape Breton to Saskatchewan, as far north as 54 30'. 



Maine, common, most abundant in central and southern 

 portions ; New Hampshire, common from the southern 

 base of the White mountains to the sea; in the remaining 

 ,New England states very common, attaining its highest devel- 

 opment in the rich alluvium of the Connecticut river valley. 



South to Florida ; west to Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. 



Habit. In the fullness of its vigor the American elm is 

 the most stately and graceful of the New England trees, 

 50-110 feet high and 1-8 feet in diameter above the swell of 

 the roots ; characterized by an erect, more or less feathered or 

 naked trunk, which loses itself completely in the branches, by 

 arching limbs, drooping branchlets set at a wide angle, and 

 by a spreading head widest near the top. Modifications of 

 these elements give rise to various well-marked forms which 

 have received popular names. 



1. In the vase-shaped tree, which is usually regarded as the 

 type, the trunk separates into several large branches which 

 rise, slowly diverging, 40-50 feet, and then sweep outward in 

 wide arches, the smaller branches and spray becoming pendent. 



2. In the umbrella form the trunk remains entire nearly 

 to the top of the tree, when the branches spread out abruptly, 

 forming a broad, shallow arch, fringed at the circumference 

 with long, drooping branchlets. 



3. The slender trunk of the plume elm rises, usually undi- 

 vided, a considerable height, begins to curve midway, and 

 is capped with a one-sided tuft of branches and delicate, 

 elongated branchlets. 



4. The drooping elm differs from the type in the height of 

 the arch and greater droop of the branches, which sometimes 

 sweep the ground. 



