Slippery Elm

SlipperyElm

OtherCommonNames:RedElm

ScientificName: Ulmus Rubra

ConservationStatus:Inthemostrecentconductionin2018, The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species listedthe Ulmus Rubra (SlipperyElm)atthestateofleastconcern,respectively.

Photos:

IdentifiableCharacteristics:

● Roughleaves

● Fruitsarefuzzyspheres

A blooming Slippery Elm Branch

● Barkhassapunderneaththatemitssmell

● PointyTiponLeaves

EcologicalImportance:TheSlipperyElmisafoodsourceformedium-sizedanimalswhofeed onitsseeds.ItalsoshelterstheseanimalsastheSlipperElm’ssizeandstaturecanprotect/shield speciesduringweatherevents.Certainbirdsalsotendtonestinsidetheirtrunks.Thesebenefits arefelttoalesserdegreehowever,asalltypesofElmtreesarespecificallyaffectedbyafungal illnesscalledtheDutchElmDisease.ThisdevastatinginfectionkilledalmostalltheElmsin Ontarioduringthelate20thcenturyandeventhoughtheSlipperyElmisaffectedtoalesser degree,stillpreventsthespeciesfromgrowingintoforests.

The Slippery sap underneath the bark

DistributionMap

SociologicalImportance:ThesapofSlipperyElmtreeshasmedicalapplications.Thissapcan beusedtocurecommonmaladiessuchascoughs,butithasbeenrarelyusedoutsideofsettler communities,fromcenturiesago.Theywere,however,ofculturalimportancetoIndgineous peoplesinourareabefore,astheeleganceofelmsmadethemmarkersforlocationsof importance.

LocationonCampus:

43°14°15.4°N 79°53°46.8°W Near the Junior School Playground