Part 66

Bark: Reddish-brown to gray, with shallow furrows; the inner bark becomes slippery when chewed.

Twigs: Rather stout, reddish-brown, with short, gray hairs; leaf scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Nearly round, up to one-fourth inch in diameter, with rusty-colored hairs.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to elliptic, pointed at the tip, strongly asymmetrical at the base, up to 7 inches long, about half as wide, coarsely doubly toothed along the edges, the upper surface green and very rough to the touch, the lower surface smooth or hairy; leafstalks stout, hairy, up to one-half inch long.

Flowers: In drooping clusters, appearing before the leaves unfold, greenish, hairy, small.

Fruit: Circular, winged fruits up to three-fourths inch in diameter, not hairy except over the seed, each wing surrounding a single seed.

Wood: Heavy, strong, dark brown.

Uses: Shipbuilding, farm implements, fence posts.

Habitat: Bottomland woods; along streams; rocky, upland woods.

Range: Quebec across Ontario to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Distinguishing Features: The rough, sandpapery texture of the asymmetrical leaves distinguishes this elm from all others in the state.

ROCK ELM Ulmus thomasii Sarg.

Other Name: Cork Elm.

Growth Form: Medium tree up to 75 feet tall; trunk diameter up to three feet; crown narrow, oblong, with drooping branches.

Bark: Grayish-brown, with shallow furrows.

Twigs: Slender, brown, smooth or finely hairy, usually with corky wings; leaf scars alternate, half-round, each with 3 bundle traces.

Buds: Lance-shaped, pointed, brown, more or less hairy, up to one-fourth inch long.

Leaves: Alternate, simple; blades oval to oblong, pointed at the tip, rounded at the slightly asymmetrical base, up to 4 inches long, doubly toothed, green, smooth, and shiny on the upper surface, paler and hairy on the lower surface; leafstalks up to one-half inch long, smooth.

Flowers: In drooping clusters of 2-4, appearing before the leaves begin to unfold, greenish-red, hairy, small.

Fruit: Oval, winged fruits up to one-half inch long, hairy, each wing with a shallow notch at the top and surrounding a single seed.

Wood: Hard, strong, heavy, close-grained, pale brown.

Uses: Railroad ties, farm implements, hockey sticks.

Habitat: Wooded slopes, rock ledges.

Range: Quebec to Ontario and Minnesota, southwestward to Kansas, east to Tennessee.

Distinguishing Features: Rock Elm differs from other elms in Illinois by its corky-winged twigs and its smooth leafstalks.

SWEET VIBURNUM Viburnum lentago L.

Other Names: Nannyberry; Wild Raisin; Sheepberry.

Growth Form: Small tree to 25 feet tall; trunk diameter up to 5 inches; crown rounded.