Ulmaceae -- Elm family

    John J. Stransky and Sylvia M. Bierschenk

    Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) grows rapidly to medium or  large size in the Southern United States and northeastern Mexico,  where it may sometimes be called basket elm, red elm, southern  rock elm, or olmo (Spanish). It usually is found on moist,  limestone soils along water courses with other bottomland trees,  but it also grows on dry limestone hills. The wood is very  strong; the lumber is mixed with other southern elm species and  sold as rock elm. Its seeds are eaten by several species of  birds. Within its range, cedar elm is often planted as an  ornamental shade tree. It has the smallest leaves of any native  elm and is one of two that flower in the fall.