The Trees of Texas 97 
of our area are not so large and ornamental as the trees grow- 
ing in the northeastern states. 
The wood is hard, tough, flexible, and difficult to split. It 
is used for agricultural implements, hubs, crates, staves, and 
heading. It is also used extensively in furniture making, as 
it takes stains very well. The tree has been a great favorite 
for shade tree planting. It grows rapidly. The American elm 
is one of our most beautiful native trees, and its planting 
should be encouraged. 
4, Ulmus fulva Michaux. Slippery Elm. Red Elm. A 
forest tree 60°-70° high with trunk diameter sometimes reach- 
ing 2°, usually smaller. The branches spread to form a broad 
open flat-topped crown. Bark deeply fissured, reddish brown, 
the inner layer fragrant and mucilaginous. Leaves ovate- 
oblong, 4’-6’ long, coarsely doubly serrate, rounded on one 
side at base, oblique on the other, thick dark green, very 
rough above, more or less pubescent beneath. The flowers 
appear before the leaves in the early spring and the fruit 
ripens when the leaves are about one-half their mature size. 
(Juebee to Florida, west to North Dakcta, Nebraska and 
Texas. It extends to the valley of the San Antonio River. 
The wood is hard, strong, ight, durable when exposed in 
the soil. It is used for cross ties, fence posts and otherwise 
as Ulmus Americana. 
2. PLANERA Gmelin. Planer Tree. 
Planer aquatica Gmelin. A small tree 30°-40° high and 
20’ in diameter with low broad crown and slender branches. 
Bark thin, about 14’, light brown, falling away in large scales. 
Leaves ovate-oblong, rounded or unequally wedge-shaped at 
base, pointed or rounded at the apex, toothed, 2’-214’ long, 
34’-1’ wide, dark green above, paler below. Flowers of two 
kinds, the stamen bearing or staminate are borne on wood of 
the previous year, the pistil bearing or pistillate in the axils 
of leaves of the current season. The fruit is a nut-like struct- 
ure covered with elongated projections, ripening in the spring. 
The tree resembles the elms, but may be readily distinguished 
by the fruit. 
7—Trees. 
