Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

Slippery or Red Elm is still a very common tree. I think it has out-run the Dutch Elm Disease, as it sows itself around so fast and much and selected its own resistant progeny . It is similar to the American Elm, but does not get quite as big and it is somewhat vase-shaped or sort of rounded in form. It has larger leaves than the American Elm that are 5 to 7 inches long x 2 to 3 inches wide and they are rough to the touch, a little bit like sandpaper. The foliage gets a golden fall color that is alright. Its native range is from southwest Quebec and far southeast Ontario to southern New England down to northwest Florida to east Texas up to central Minnesota to all Michigan. Oftentimes it is weed tree in waste places, abandoned lots, and tough urban situations, but it is also a pioneer tree, being one of the first trees to colonize a open field or meadow, with Green Ash, Boxelder, Cottonwoods, and such, or grows along forest margins. It can make a fine shade tree. The inner bark, especially in twigs, contains a sticky, aromatic substance that once was chewed for sore throat relief, thus "slippery."

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This is a rather common plant here in the Great Lakes region.

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