Allegheny Mountain Woodland Association

American Elm

Common Name	American Elm
Also Known As	Elm
Scientific Name	Ulmus americana
Champion Trees	Cambria County Champion Submitted by: Lillian Psarki Location: Summerhill Circumference: 198 inches Height: 58 feet Average Spread: 85 feet Points: 270 Pennsylvania Champion Points: 347 (See Champion Trees of Pennsylvania for more details) National Champion Points: 403 (See American Forests National Register of Big Trees for details)

Form

Form

A large tree usuallly attaining a height of 80-100 feet, with a diameter of 2-4 feet, but may reach a height of 120 feet with a a diameter of 8-11 feet. Some trunks are tall and straight terminated by a shallow but broad crown composed of gracefully drooping lateral branches. In open growth trees, the trunk often divides near the ground. The form may resemble the spray of a fountain.

Bark

Bark	Rather thick and grayish, roughened by long and irregular furrows separating rather broad, flat ridges which are usually firm buy oaccasionally flaky or corky. Cross section of bark often shows alternating white and brown layers.

Twigs

Twigs

Slender, at first greenish and pubescent, later smooth and reddish brown, roughened by leaf scars and pale, inconspicuous, scattered lenticels. Base of twigs marked with persistent ring-like bud scale scars.

Buds

Buds

Alternate; terminal bud absent; ovate, sharp pointed, slightly flattened, reddish brown, usually smooth, rarely slightly hairy, covered with about  six to ten overlapping reddish brown scales with darker margin. Leaf buds are smalled than the flower buds and located toward the end of the twig. Flower buds are larger and located along the side of the twig. Buds are generally located above one end of leaf scar.

Leaves

Leaves

Alternate, simple, ovate, 4-6 inches long, thick, rough, unequally based, acute at apex, doubly toothed on margin. Primary vein runs straight from midrib to point of teeth

Flowers

Flowers

Appear before the leaves from lateral propagative buds. Flowers occur in 3-4 flowered clusters on drooping stalks about one inch long. They are perfect with greenish calyx, reddish anthers, and light green styles.

Fruit

Fruit

An oval samara, about 1/2 inch long, borne on a slender stalk; consists of a flat seed surrounded by a wing which is terminallly deeply notched and ciliated on margin. Matures early in spring shortly after flowers.

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