AMMUCAN Elm; WHITE ELM (Ulmus Americana, Linn.). 75 to 1i5 feet. Tall tree with usually fan-shaped, upward spread of top, and drooping outer branches. Bark gray, rough, with irregular fissures. Wood reddish, coarse, heavy, cross-grained, difficult to work, durable in contact with water and soil. Buds flattened, pointed; flower buds plump, lateral on youngest twigs. Leaves alternate, unsymmetrical at base, obovate, acuminate, doubly saw-toothed, with strong parallel ribs. Flowers March, before leaves open, perfect, the stamens clustered around the single pistil with forked stigma, thrust out of the flaring greenish cup, that hangs on a thread-like stem. Clusters of flowers umbel-like, dull pur
plish. Fruits, single, green, flat, oval, notched, the size of a little finger-nail, seed central, with a thin wing all around it. Wind-scattered in May. Dist.: Atlantic seaboard to Rocky Mountains. Planted for ornament and shade. Wood used for hubs, saddle trees, barrels, flooring, for flumes, piles, and in shipbuilding. Preferred habitat, rich moist soil, but it thrives on uplands and outside its range.