Ulmaceae - Elm Family
Ulmus rubra (Slippery Elm)
This tree grows to 70 feet tall, and is 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The leaves are in 2 rows, 4 to 7 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, elliptical, and abruptly long pointed. The leaf base is rounded with the sides being very unequal. They are doubly saw-toothed with many straight parallel side veins. The leaves are very thick, dark green to green, and very rough above in both directions, densely covered with soft hairs beneath. The twigs are rough hairy. The buds are red hairy. The flowers are 1/8" wide, greenish, numerous, and short-stalked along the twigs in early spring. The fruit is 1/2" to 3/4" long, nearly round, flat, 1-seeded keys with light green broad hairless wing, slightly notched at tip, maturing in spring.
The thick, slightly fragrant, edible glue-like inner bark is dried and afterwards moistened for use as a cough medicine or as a poultice. This "slippery" inner bark (found by chewing through the outer bark of the twig) is helpful in identification.
This tree is found in moist soils, especially in lower slopes and flood-plains, but is often found on dry uplands in hardwood forests.
The thick, slightly fragrant, edible glue-like inner bark is dried and afterwards moistened for use as a cough medicine or as a poultice. This "slippery" inner bark (found by chewing through the outer bark of the twig) is helpful in identification.
This tree is found in moist soils, especially in lower slopes and flood-plains, but is often found on dry uplands in hardwood forests.