SLIPPERY ELM BARK (ULMUS RUBRA)

Ulmus rubra, the Slippery Elm, is a species of elm native to eastern North America (from southeast North Dakota, east to Maine and southern Quebec, south to northernmost Florida, and west to eastern Texas). Other common names include Red Elm, Gray Elm, Soft Elm, Moose Elm, and Indian Elm.

CLASSIFICATION

This widespread, common North American forest tree species was named several times, with Pennsylvania botanist Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg's 1793 name Ulmus rubra now accepted as the first formally published. The slightly later name U. fulva, published by French botanist Andr? Michaux in 1803, is used in much of the older literature, and is still widely used in dietary-supplement and alternative-medicine information. The slippery elm has almost universally been treated taxonomically as a distinct species without named subspecies or varieties. However, it was sometimes considered a variety of the American Elm, Ulmus americana var. rubra, in the late 18th century. The species is similar to American Elm (U. americana) in general appearance, but more closely related to the European Wych Elm (U. glabra), which has a very similar flower structure.

DECSRIPTION

Ulmus rubra, the Slippery Elm, is a deciduous tree which can grow to 65 feet (20 m) in height with a 20-inch (50 cm) d.b.h. trunk. The tree's more upright branching pattern differs from the deliquescent branching of the American elm. Its heartwood is reddish-brown, giving the tree its alternative common name 'Red Elm'. The leaves are 4-6 in (10?18 cm) long and have a rough texture (especially above), coarsely double-serrate margins, acuminate apices and oblique bases. The perfect, apetalous, wind-pollinated flowers are produced before the leaves in early spring, usually in clusters of 10?20. The fruit is an oval winged samara about 3/4 in (20 mm) long that containing a single, central seed. Slippery elm may be distinguished from American elm by the hairiness of its buds and twigs (both smooth on the American elm) and by its very short-stalked flowers.

PESTS AND DISEASES

The tree is reputedly less susceptible to Dutch elm disease than other species of American elms, but is severely damaged by the Elm Leaf Beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola).

USES

MEDICINAL

Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) has had various traditional medicinal uses. The mucilagenous inner bark of the slippery elm has long been used as a demulcent, and is still produced commercially for this purpose in the United States with approval for sale as a nutritional supplement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A tea brewed from the inner bark helps ease a sore throat and irritated stomach ? in addition to other mucous membranes. Sometimes slippery elm leaves are dried and ground into a powder, then made into a tea. Both slippery elm gruel and tea are said to soothe the digestive tract. Whole bark of slippery elm was used as an abortifacient, but not without serious consequences, such as death of the mother.

OTHER USES

The wood of the slippery elm is used for the hubs of wagon wheels, as it is very shock resistant owing to the interlocking grain. The tree's fibrous inner bark produces a strong and durable fiber that can be spun into thread, twine, or rope useful for bow strings, ropes, jewellery, clothing, snowshoe bindings, woven mats, and even some musical instruments. Once cured, the wood is also excellent for starting fires with the bow-drill method, as it grinds into a very fine flammable powder under friction.

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