Ulmus americana
Henry Hartley
Ulmus americana
Henry Hartley
The American Elm was once one of America's most dominant trees. There are many still around, but disease has wiped out many more.
Elms are large trees, reaching 100 feet tall. Their trunks can be four feet wide.
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Elms have simple leaves with teeth on the edges. They are usually one to five inches long, and they turn yellow in the Fall. The upper part of the leaf is rough, like sandpaper, and the bottom is smooth. |
Michael Clayton,
Wisconsin State Herbarium |
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Steven J. Baskauf, Bioimages |
The bark of this tree is light gray with deep furrows. American Elms have small greenish flowers, organized in clusters on the stems. Fruits are a half-inch long, rounded, and flat. The seeds are called samaras and have hairy edges. Songbirds, mice, squirrels, woodchucks, and opossums eat the fruit and seeds. Rabbits and deer eat young trees. Bees, butterflies, and other insects visit flowers and help pollinate them. Many insects, especially caterpillars, eat the leaves. Parasitic fungi, such as Oyster Mushrooms grow on the trunk. |
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Copyright, Mark Brand, UConn Plant Database |
Donald R. Farrar, Trees and Shrubs of the Campus of Iowa State University |
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American Elms are fast growing trees which will quickly take over a field if not diseased. They are sought out by many birds as nest sites. Cavity dwellers, such as woodpeckers, chickadees, squirrels, and raccoons often find homes in this tree. American Elms grow in forests, fields, and along shores of streams. Their seeds are usually moved by wind or water. Other trees associated with elms include Red Maple, Sycamore, Sweetgum, Black Willow, Eastern Cottonwood, Silver Maple, and Hackberry. Dutch Elm Disease is a fungal disease transmitted by bark beetles, including the American Bark Beetle. The beetle eats on a diseased tree and then, when it moves to a new one, spreads the disease. Helpful fungi can also be found on the roots of this tree. These fungi transmit nutrients through the tree's roots. |
Copyright, Mark Brand, UConn Plant Database |
Relationships in Nature:
Animals
Using as Food Source Animals
Using as Shelter Associations
With Other Plants
Relationship to Humans:
American Elms were a favorite tree of Americans for years. We would plant them along streets in our cities and towns. They were used for landscaping and to control steam erosion. Unfortunately, the arrival of Dutch Elm Disease has killed many trees. American Elms continue to be a good food source and nesting site for wildlife. Its wood has been used for crates, boxes, furniture, baskets, and paneling.
