Ulmaceae -- Elm family

    John H. Cooley and J. W. Van Sambeek

    Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), identified by its "slippery"  inner bark, is commonly a medium-sized tree of moderately fast  growth that may live to be 200 years old. Sometimes called red  elm, gray elm, or soft elm, this tree grows best and may reach 40  m (132 ft) on moist, rich soils of lower slopes and flood plains,  although it may also grow on dry hillsides with limestone soils.  It is abundant and associated with many other hardwood trees in  its wide range. Slippery elm is not an important lumber tree; the  hard strong wood is considered inferior to American elm even  though they are often mixed and sold together as soft elm. The  tree is browsed by wildlife and the seeds are a minor source of  food. It has long been cultivated but succumbs to Dutch elm  disease.