220. RED OR SLIPPERY ELM (_Ulmus fulva_ Michx.) Habitat: principally in
rich soil on low hillsides or stream banks, a common tree. Leaves:
doubly toothed, unequal at the base, 3 to 7 inches long, rough on both
sides. Twigs: somewhat mucilaginous or “slippery” when chewed; buds
covered with rusty hairs. Inner BARK: very mucilaginous, used in
medicine; outer BARK: grayish brown with flat ridges. Flowers: small,
inconspicuous, appearing very early in spring, before the leaves; in
clusters, each flower on a long drooping stalk. Fruit: green-winged
seeds, disk-shaped, notched at tip but without incurved tips. Wood:
close-grained, tough, heavy, hard, used for fence posts, crossties,
implements, ribs for small boats, etc.
221. WHITE OR AMERICAN ELM (_Ulmus americana_ L.) Habitat: similar to
red elm, less common. Leaves: similar except usually rather smooth above
and downy below, veins prominent below and parallel from midrib to leaf
edge. Twigs: brownish and smoother, buds without rusty hairs, not, or
very slightly, mucilaginous. Cross section of BARK shows alternate
layers of brown and white; surface dark gray with irregular, flat-topped
ridges. Flowers: very short-stalked. Seed: wings notched, with incurving
tips. Wood: hard, strong, tough, difficult to split, coarse-grained,
used for wheel-hubs, saddletrees, floors, boats.
222. CEDAR ELM (_Ulmus crassifolia_ Nutt.) Habitat: varied, our most
abundant elm, resists drouth and root rot, hence recommended as a shade
tree. Leaves: 1 to 2 inches long, usually blunt tipped. Young TWIGS:
reddish and slightly downy, sometimes have corky wings. Flowers and
Fruit: in late summer and early autumn. Branches: relatively short and
numerous, making dense shade in spite of small size of leaves. Wood:
brittle, sometimes used for hubs, furniture and fencing; mostly for fuel
and charcoal.
223. WINGED ELM (_Ulmus alata_ Michx.) Usually found on low, sandy land;
not common. Leaves: 1½ to 3 inches long, pointed at the tip. Twigs:
usually with many broad, corky wings, though sometimes absent. Flowers:
in spring. Wood: similar to other elms.
224. ROUGH-LEAVED HACKBERRY (_Celtis occidentalis_ var. _crassifolia_
Gray). Habitat: varied, more common on rich soil. Leaves: ovate, toothed
at least toward the long point, 2 to 4 inches long. Fruit: a roundish,
dark purple berry ripening in early fall, often clinging to the tree
through the winter and forming a popular food for many birds; about ¼
inch in diameter. Bark: of trunk usually conspicuous with its
characteristic warty projections. Wood: heavy but soft and weak, decays
rapidly when exposed, little used except for fuel. The characteristic
brown gall on the twigs is almost a mark of recognition in winter, when
trees are too small to show the typical warty bark.
225. SOUTHERN HACKBERRY (_Celtis laevigata_ Willd.) Less common than
previous species. Distinguished by the smooth margins of the slightly
longer and narrower LEAVES and by the orange or yellowish color of the
FRUIT. Both trees are widely planted for shade as they are resistant to
root rot.
226. BOIS D’ARC OR OSAGE ORANGE (_Maclura pomifera_ Schn.) also called
horse-apple. Abundant in rich bottomland. Leaves: entire, dark green and
glossy, oval, pointed at tip, 3 to 5 inches long. The yellowish-brown
BARK distinguishes it from any other thorny tree, contains tannin and
that of root a yellow dye. Flowers: monoecious, the female in a rounded
ball, male in an elongated cluster. Fruit: resembles a very rough,
large, bright green orange. Wood: bright orange in color, most durable
in contact with the soil, used principally for posts.
227. RED MULBERRY (_Morus rubra_ L.) Common in rich lowlands, often in
the shade of larger trees. Leaves: 3 to 5 inches long or rarely much
larger in dense shade, toothed, ovate, pointed at tip, rounded or
heart-shaped at base; on young trees often mitten-shaped or deeply and
variously lobed, rough above. Flowers: monoecious or dioecious, in
drooping catkins, the female shorter. Fruit: red to black, resembles
blackberry, ripens through May, very attractive to many birds,
especially the migrating thrushes. Bark: thin, dark grayish brown,
breaking into long scales. Twigs: slender, somewhat zigzag, with milky
juice. Wood: light, soft, weak, used for fence posts, cooperage and boat
building.