78 



Common Trees 



m, 



SLIPPERY ELM 



Ulmus fulva, Michaux 



The Slippery Elm, also called Red Elm and Moose El: 

 has been a well-known tree ever since the pioneer hunters 

 and early travellers learned that its bark has excellent proper- 

 ties for quenching thirst and staying hunger. The bark is 

 still held in esteem for the treatment of throat trouble, feven 

 and inflammation. 



The leaves are sim- 

 ple, alternate, 5 to 7 

 inches long, rough, 

 unequally based, dou- 

 bly toothed on mar- 

 gin. 



The greenish flow- 

 ers appear early in 

 spring before the 

 leaves. They occur 

 in few-flowered clus- 

 ters along twigs. 



The fruit is a small 

 seed surrounded com- 

 pletely by a thin, flat, 

 membrane-like wing. 

 It is about Vi of an 

 inch across and ma- 

 tures shortly after the 

 flowers. 



The bark is dark- 

 brown tinged with 

 red, becomes rough and furrowed. Inner bark is slippery, 

 fragrant, mucilaginous. The twigs are grayish and rather 

 rough when mature. The buds are dark chestnut-brown, 

 covered with about 1 2 hairy rusty-brown scales. 



The wood is heavy, hard, tough, dark-brown to red, with 

 light sapwood. It is used for barrels, agricultural imple- 

 ments, posts, ties, and novelties. 



The Slippery Elm is found from the Valley of the St. 

 Lawrence, south to Florida and west to North Dakota and 

 Texas. It is frequent across New York south of the Adi- 

 rondacks. The rich soil of the lowlands is its favorite home. 

 It is often found near streams and prefers limestone soil. 



In addition to the native elms, the English Elm (Ulmus 

 campestris, Linnaeus) has been planted extensively in New 

 York. 



SLIPPERY ELM 



One-fourth natural size. 

 Twig section, leaf-scar and flowers, enlarged. 



