URTICACEAE 
Cork Elm. Rock Elm 
Ulmus racemosa Thomas [Ulmus Thomasi Sarg.] 
HHABIT.—A large tree sometimes reaching a height of 100 
feet and a trunk diameter of 5 feet, but usually somewhat 
smaller; strongly drooping lateral and lower branches form a 
narrow, oblong crown. 
LEAVES.—Alternate, simple, 3-6 inches long, one-half as 
broad; obovate to oblong-oval, more or less dished; coarsely 
doubly serrate; thick and firm; lustrous, dark green above, pale- 
pubescent beneath; petioles pubescent, 14 inch long. 
FLOWERS.—March-April, before the leaves; mostly per- 
fect; greenish; borne on slender, drooping pedicels in loose 
racemes; calyx campanulate, 7-8-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 7-8, 
with purple anthers; ovary ‘hairy, 2-styled. 
FRUIT.—iMay; ovate, 1-seeded samaras, pubescent all over, 
¥% inch long. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Terminal bud absent; lateral buds ovoid, 
acute, brown, pilose, 44 inch long. 
BARK.—Twigs at first light brown and pubescent, becoming 
lustrous, red-brown, finally gray-brown with corky, wing-like 
ridges; thick and grayish on the trunk, with wide fissures sepa- 
rating broad, flat, scaly ridges. 
WOOD.—Heavy, very strong and tough, close-grained, light 
red-brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Frequent in the southern third of the 
Lower Peninsula. 
HABITAT.—Dry, gravelly uplands; rocky ridges and 
slopes; heavy clay soils; river-banks. 
NOTES.—A good street tree, but less graceful in habit than 
U. americana. 
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