Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Ulmus americana
American elm
Taxonomy

Synonyms:

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

  • Magnoliophyta

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA Plants;  ITIS;  The Plant List;  IPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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More about map & occurrence records

County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNA;  USDA Plants;  BONAP;  BISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin: Native

Species Description

General: Dicot-woody, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: alternate leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; doubly serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation; obovate, reniform leaf shape

Inflorescence: other

Flowers: perfect; incomplete, not petals; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: samara

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Found on plains, morainal hills, bottomlands, in swamps and stream margins.

ILPIN Notes: Form-whips. 28. No corky wings on branches. Leaves strongly asymmetrical at base; not rough to touch. Flowers in fascicles. Buds, seeds, and wood are used as food by terrestrial furbearers, especially rabbits and squirrels. Fruit eaten by wood duck. Fruit and buds eaten by finches. Causes hayfever.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators: wind
  • Dispersal: wind
  • Mycorrhizae:
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers:

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value: deer: yes; upland game birds: yes; waterfowl: yes; small non-game bird: yes; aquatic species: yes
  • Cover Value: small non-game bird: good

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 5
  • Chicago Area: 3

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