(120) 



in the post oak there is a tendency for the middle lobe to be 

 longer than the lobes above and below it. The base of the 

 blade is sharply wedge-shaped. When the leaves are about 

 one third unfolded the flowers appear, followed in the same 

 autumn by the usually stalkless acorns. The nut is ovoid 

 or oblong and about }i of an inch long, covered only for 

 its lower fourth by the woolly cup. 



The tree is very common within its area of distribution, 

 which extends from Quebec to Florida and westward. It is 

 well represented in the Hudson Valley by many magnificent 

 specimens. 

 American Elm Ulmus Americana 



The American or white elm is the largest and most widely 

 dispersed of our native elms. The well-known habit of 

 branching gives the tree a distinctive and beautiful outline, 

 which is particularly attractive in winter. The branches are 

 without corky ridges, which distinguishes another native elm, 

 and are usually reddish-brown. The leaf-blades are smooth- 

 ish above, oval in outline, abruptly pointed at the apex, and 

 from 2 to 5 inches long. The base of the blade is usually 

 inequilateral, and the leaf margins are conspicuously toothed. 



Some time before the leaves unfold the flowers appear. 

 As the word is usually understood they are without petals. 

 In early summer the little clusters of fruits mature. Indi- 

 vidual fruits consist of a seed with a wing surrounding and 

 closely investing it. In the American elm the seed-wing is 

 smooth on its face but conspicuously hairy around its edges. 



In New England the elm has been planted for decorative 

 purposes more extensively than any other tree. It grows 

 wild from Quebec to Florida and westward, and is very com- 

 mon in the Hudson Valley. Besides its decorative value the 

 American elm is prized for its valuable wood which is much 

 used for making ships, floors, and so forth. (Plate 142.) 

 Slippery Elm Ulmus fulva 



The highly mucilaginous inner bark of this tree has given 

 ne of slippery elm. It is not so tall as 



