Common Name: American Elm
Scientific Name: Ulmus americana
Location: Baldwin Hall
Identifying Features
The American Elm can grow up to 100 feet tall and 4 feet wide at the base. The leaves are coarsely toothed and the leaf base is asymmetrical (one lobe is larger than the other) and its branch growth pattern creates an umbrella-like canopy. Small purple-brown flowers form in early spring and round, winged fruits litter the sidewalks before many trees have leafed out.
Distribution/Geography
The American elm is native to eastern North America and able to grow as far west as Montana. They are very hardy trees and can live for several hundred years or withstand freezing temperatures as low as -42 °C (-44 °F).
History
American Elms were a very popular tree to plant in parks and cities due to its ability to thrive in urban areas. However, in the early 1900’s, a fungus called Dutch Elm Disease arrived in North America. This fungus killed over 70% of Elms planted in the United States by 1990.
Uses
American Elm wood is tough and hard to use for many woodworking projects, but it is often used to line streets as they would form archways with their branches when planted across from each other.
Fun Fact
Most American Elms are tetraploids, meaning that they have double the usual number of chromosomes.