460 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



WHITE ELM 



American or Water Elm. 



Ulmus americana L. 



HABIT A large tree 50-110 ft. in height with a trunk diameter of 

 1-8 ft.; trunk more or less widely buttressed dividing high up into 

 a number of large limbs which grow upward and bend gradually and 

 gracefully outward dividing repeatedly to form a broad round or 

 flat-topped inversely conical head with drooping branchlets. In respect 

 to its general outline various types of the Elm have been distinguished 

 as the "Vase Form" shown in the photograph; the "Umbrella Form" 

 with trunk undivided to near the top with abruptly spreading branches 

 forming a broad shallow arch; the "Plume Form" with a one-sided 

 development of drooping branches from a tall trunk; the "Oak Form" 

 with more tortuous and less arching limbs forming a wide rounded 

 head; the "Feathered Form," a modification of any of the other types 

 with the trunk fringed with short branches. 



BARK Dark gray divided by irregular longitudinal fissures into 

 broad flat-topped ridges, rather firm though sometimes in very old 

 trees coming off in flakes; the bark is internally stratified by thick 

 conspicuously whitish layers alternating with layers of a dark brown 

 (see plate for section of a ridge of bark). 



TWIGS Slender, smooth or slightly or sometimes densely downy, 

 light reddish-brown, often tinged with yellow, very slightly mucilagin- 

 ous if chewed. LENTICELS pale, scattered, more or less inconspicuous. 



LEAF-SCARS Alternate, 2-ranked, semi-circular, raised, small but 

 conspicuous because of contrast in color between the light corky surface 

 of the scar and the darker brown of the twig. STIPULE-SCARS 

 narrow, minute, sometimes indistinct. BUNDLE-SCARS relatively large, 

 conspicuous, typically 3 in number though often more by compound- 

 ing of single scars, generally sunken in depressions of the leaf-scar. 



BUDS Terminal bud absent; lateral buds small, often placed at one 

 side of leaf-scar, ovate-conical, pointed, about 4 mm. long, slightly 

 flattened and more or less appressed against the twig, light reddish- 

 brown, smooth and shining or slightly pale-downy; flower buds stouter, 

 obovate, appearing as if stalked. BUD-SCALES about 6-9 to a leaf- 

 bud in 2 ranks increasing in size from without inward, generally 

 with darker and. more or less hairy-edged margins. 



FRUIT A flat, oval, terminally deeply notched, winged fruit, hairy- 

 fringed on edges, ripening in spring and scarcely to be found in winter. 



COMPARISONS The White Elm differs from the Slippery Elm in the 

 whitish layers of the bark, the absence of rusty hairs on the buds 

 and the brownish color of its relatively smooth twigs. From the Cork 

 Elm it may be separated by its habit of growth and by the absence 

 of corky ridges on the twigs. The graceful drooping habit of growth 

 of its branches and the light reddish brown of its buds are sufficient 

 to distinguish the American from the English Elm. 



DISTRIBUTION Low, moist ground; thrives especially on rich inter- 

 vales. Frequently planted as a street and shade tree. From Cape Breton 

 to Saskatchewan, as far north as 54 30'; south to Florida; west to 

 Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. 



IN NEW ENGLAND 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 development in the rich alluvium 

 of the Connecticut river valley. 



WOOD Heavy, hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, coarse-grained, 

 light brown, with thick somewhat lighter colored sapwood, largely 

 used for the hubs of wheels, saddle-trees, in flooring and cooperage, 

 and in boat and ship building. 



