| American Elm is a common large tree of bottomland forests. Many trees were killed by Dutch elm disease, an introduced fungal disease spread by bark beetles, but the population seems to have recovered and American Elm is currently quite common. Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.
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| Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.
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| Wake Co., NC 5/23/2009.
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| Chapel Hill, NC 5/2/09.
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| The leaf bases are very lopsided, like those of Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), but the leaves are often but not always smooth above, while those of Slippery Elm are rough. See the Slippery Elm account for more on separating the two very similar species. Blacksburg, Montgomery Co., VA 7/13/07.
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| Also compare with the common Winged Elm (Ulmus alata), which has shorter, narrower leaves. Blacksburg, Montgomery Co., VA 7/13/07.
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| The tree is renowned for its vase-like form. Before Dutch Elm Disease wiped out many large trees, it was frequently used as a street tree. Now little cultivated because of the threat of the disease, though large trees are still quite common in the wild. Durham Co., NC 6/8/03.
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| Mecklenburg Co., VA 5/2/05.
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| Vigorous young growth may have leaves that are rough-hairy above and hairy branches. Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.
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| Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.
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| Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.
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| Durham Co., NC 10/16/2008.
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| The flowers, which are produced in early spring before the leaves emerge, are green, like those of Slippery Elm, and unlike the dull reddish tinged flowers of the Winged Elm. American Elm samaras (fruits) are notched at the tip and have ciliate margins; those of Slippery Elm are entire and smooth. Orange Co., NC 3/9/08.
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| Bark of a large tree. If you cut a cross section of the bark, you'll see alternating pale and dark bands, lacking in Slippery Elm. Mecklenburg Co., VA 5/2/05.
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