Other Common Names:
American Elm, Water Elm, Swamp Elm and Rock Elm.
White Elm is confined mainly to the western portion of the province where it occurs in scattered patches especially in low-lying areas. It is a medium sized tree here, about 5o to 60 feet high with a diameter of a little over a foot.
In the forest, it forms a tall straight trunk which rises toa considerable height before branching. In the open, it often divides near the ground into several limbs which gradually spread out to form a fan-shaped crown. The lower limbs and small branchlets are inclined to droop.
White Elm does well on rich, moist, well-drained sandy loam or gravelly soils, where the water table is near the surface. It grows singly or in mixtures with other hardwoods and softwoods.
The wood is valuable for its strength and toughness. This tree is widely planted for ornamental purposes.
DESCRIPTION
LEAVES: Alternate, oval in outline, abruptly sharp-pointed, unequal at the base, coarse and double-toothed, 3 1/2 to 6 inches long; dark green and smooth or roughened above, paler and usually hairy below.
FLOWERS: April-May, before the leaves, from special flower buds; bisexual; borne on long stems in loose clusters.
FRUIT: June; an oval one-seeded, flattened, greenish samara, about 1/2 inch in diameter, the thin encircling wing usually notched at the tip and hairy on the margin, falling at maturity.
TWIGS: Slender, smooth or hairy, reddish-brown. No terminal bud; leaf-buds pointed, about 1/8 of an inch long, reddish-brown with somewhat hairy scales. Flower buds rounded, larger.
BARK: On old stems, rough, dark grey, furrowed into broad, intersecting ridges or with a flaky appearance; inner bark streaked with buff-coloured patches.
WOOD: Heavy, hard, strong, tough, ring porous; light brown with paler sapwood.
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