American Elm
(Ulmus americana)
Research conducted by: Nicholas Naso and Luke Lazorka, Grosse Ile High School students
General Characteristics:
Range: Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, west to central Ontario, southern Manitoba, and southeastern Saskatchewan south to extreme eastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, western Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma into central Texas; east to central Florida; and north along the entire east coast.
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Identify American Elm by looking for doubly serrated oval leaves. They have large teeth like structures with small edges at the top.
Commercial Value:
American Elm is used to make boxes, baskets, crates, barrels, furniture, agricultural implements, and caskets.
Wildlife Value:
Animals such as deer, rabbits, and hares will browse the leaves and twigs. Also, small birds will eat their seeds.
Morel Fungi have symbiotic relationships with the American Elm. The Morel Fungus help break down nutrients in the soil that allows for American Elm roots to absorb the nutrients for the tree to grow.
Interesting Tidbits:
American Elm has an average height of 60-90 ft tall and a trunk diameter of up to 4 feet. The American Elm used to be one of the most abundant trees, but Dutch Elm Disease has greatly reduced their numbers.
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Sources:
https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/american-elm/
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