Slippery Elm is a fairly common medium-large tree, named for its mucilaginous inner bark (try chewing a twig). The leaf bases are very lopsided.

Durham Co., NC 5/3/08.

The leaves are rough above, unlike American Elm (U. americana), and longer and broader than those of Winged Elm (U. alata).

Durham, NC.

The flowers, which are produced in March-April before the trees leaf out, are bright green, unlike the dull reddish tinged flowers of the Winged Elm. Slippery Elm samaras are hairless and not notched at the tip; those of American Elm are also green but have ciliate margins and are conspicuously notched at the tip.

Botetourt Co., VA 4/19/05.

Young leaves.

Botetourt Co., VA 4/19/05.

Bark of a medium-sized tree. Becomes more ridged with age.

Durham, NC.