Part 64

Growth Form: Medium to large tree up to 70 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet; crown broadly spreading.

Bark: Brown, scaly, deeply furrowed.

Twigs: Slender, pale red-brown, smooth; leaf scars alternate, half-elliptical, with 3 to several bundle traces.

Buds: Ovoid, red, usually smooth, up to ¼ inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades ovate, pointed at the tip, heart-shaped at the asymmetrical base, up to 6 inches long, about half as wide, coarsely toothed along the edges, green and more or less smooth on the upper surface, densely covered with white hairs on the lower surface; leafstalks up to 2 inches long, more or less smooth.

Flowers: Several in clusters on a long stalk attached to a paddle-shaped structure, each flower fragrant, greenish-yellow, hairy, with 5 petals, appearing in June and July.

Fruit: Hard, more or less spherical, somewhat pointed at the tip, up to ⅓ inch in diameter, reddish-brown, finely hairy.

Wood: Light in weight, close-grained, strong, not durable.

Uses: Paper pulp, fuel.

Habitat: Low, moist woods.

Range: New York across to Missouri, south to Mississippi and Georgia.

Distinguishing Features: The dense coat of white hairs on the lower surface of the leaves distinguishes the White Basswood from the Basswood.

WINGED ELM Ulmus alata Michx.

Other Name: Wahoo Elm.

Growth Form: Small or moderate tree to 60 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 2 feet, but usually much smaller; crown oblong and relatively narrow.

Bark: Dark gray, with shallow furrows.

Twigs: Slender, gray or brown, more or less zigzag, smooth, often with corky wings; leaf scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Narrow, pointed, brown, smooth or slightly hairy, up to one-fourth inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades elliptic to oblong-lanceolate, pointed at the tip, rounded at the slightly asymmetrical base, up to three inches long, doubly toothed along the edges, green and smooth or slightly roughened on the upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks short, stout, hairy.

Flowers: In drooping clusters of 2-7, appearing before the leaves unfold, greenish, hairy, small.

Fruit: Oblong, winged, up to one-third inch long, hairy along the edges, each wing notched at the top and surrounding a single central seed.

Wood: Heavy, hard, pale brown.

Uses: Tool handles, small wooden articles.

Habitat: Dry cliffs, wooded slopes, rarely low woods.

Range: Virginia across to Missouri, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The corky wings identify the Winged Elm from all other Illinois elms except the Rock Elm. It differs from the Rock Elm by its shorter, hairy leaf stalks and its usually smaller leaves.

AMERICAN ELM Ulmus americana L.

Other Name: White Elm.