slippery elm Ulmus rubra Kingdom: Plantae FEATURES Division: Magnoliophyta The deciduous slippery, or red, elm tree may grow to Class: Magnoliopsida a height of 80 feet and a trunk diameter of four feet. Order: Urticales Its bark is red-brown to gray with shallow furrows. The inner bark becomes slippery when chewed, Family: Ulmaceae giving the tree its common name. The simple leaves ILLINOIS STATUS are arranged alternately on the stem. Each leaf is oval to elliptic in shape and very uneven at the base. common, native The leaf is double-toothed along the edges and may © Guy Sternberg grow to seven inches long and three inches wide. The upper surface of each leaf is green and rough to the touch, and the lower surface may be smooth or hairy. The small, green, hairy flowers are arranged in clusters. The fruit is circular and winged, each wing surrounding only one seed. The seed may be three- fourths inch in diameter.

BEHAVIORS The slippery elm may be found statewide in Illinois. This tree grows in bottomland woods, along streams and in rocky, upland woods. The slippery elm flowers from February to April before its leaves unfold. The heavy, strong wood is used in shipbuilding, for making farm implements and for leaves fence posts. ILLINOIS RANGE

bark

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Aquatic Habitats © John Hilty bottomland forests

Woodland Habitats bottomland forests; southern Illinois lowlands; upland deciduous forests

Prairie and Edge Habitats none

© Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 2021. Biodiversity of Illinois. Unless otherwise noted, photos and images © Illinois Department of Natural Resources.