Ulmus americana

COMMON NAME: American Elm, White, Gray, Water, Swamp, or River Elm

FAMILY: Ulmaceae

GROWTH HABIT: Large tree to 60 - 80 ft. tall with a spread of 1/2 to 2/3's the height. Usually a symmetrical vase-shaped, vase shape, with slender limbs and pendulous twigs.

FOLIAGE: Simple, deciduous, alternate. Ovate to oval or obovate, 2 - 6 in. long.. Dark green and smooth above, paler and glabrous to pubescent below, chiefly on the veins; margins usually doubly and sharply serrate; bases obtuse and unequal; tips abruptly acuminate.

BUDS: Broadly ovoid and somewhat flattened, about 1/4 in. long, red-brown, glabrous, or slightly hairy. Terminate ones absent.

BARK: Coarsely ridge, ashy gray, flaky, the cross section appearing as alternate dark and light layers.

FLOWERS: Clustered ( 3-4), the slender pedicels soon elongating (about 1 in. long) and drooping. Flowering in March - April.

FRUIT: Samaras elliptic, about 1 1/2 in. long, their margins densely ciliate with a notch above to the nutlet., other wise glabrous. Maturing May - June.

NATURAL HISTORY: Prefers rich, moist soils.

NATIVE HABITAT: Newfoundland to Florida, west to the foot of the Rockies.