Slippery Elm is a fairly common medium-large tree, named for its mucilaginous inner bark. The easiest test is to scratch a petiole -- when you run your thumbnail along the broken petiole, you should be able to feel the slipperiness. The leaf bases are very lopsided, unlike those of Winged Elm (U. alata).

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.