Elm: Ulmus spp., Ulmaceae

Elm (Ulmus spp.) contains about 45 species native to Asia [11], Europe and the Mediterranean [6], South and Central America [7] and North America [7]. All species look alike microscopically. The word ulmus is the classical Latin name.

Ulmus spp. Elm (Ulmus spp.) contains about 45 species native to Asia [11], Europe and the Mediterra

Ulmaceae nean [6], South and Central America [7] and North America [7]. All species look alike mi

Elm croscopically. The word ulmus is the classical Latin name.

Soft Elms

Ulmus americana American elm, American soft elm, American weeping elm, American white elm, Florida elm, gray elm, gray hard elm, rock elm, springwood, soft elm, swamp elm, water elm, white elm

Ulmus rubra gray elm, Indian elm, it slips ooo-hoosk-ah, moose elm, red elm, red

wooded elm, rock elm, slippery elm, soft elm, sweet elm

Hard Elms

Ulmus alata cork elm, mountain elm, red elm, southern elm, wahoo, wahoo elm,

water elm, whahoo, winged elm, witch elm

Ulmus crassifolia American red elm, basket elm, cedar elm, red elm, rock elm, small leaved elm, southern rock elm, Texas elm, water elm

Ulmus serotina Red elm, September elm

Ulmus thomasii Canadian rock elm, cliff elm, cork elm, corkbark elm, corky elm, corky

barked elm, hickory elm, northern cork elm, northern corkbark elm, rock elm, swamp elm, Thomas elm, wahoo, white elm, white corky elm

Distribution: The eastern to midwest United States.

The Tree: Elm trees can reach a height of 100 ft (30 m), with a diameter of 3 ft (1 m). They may be infected with the Dutch elm disease, caused by a fungus (Ceratocystis ulmi), especially in shade trees.

General Wood Characteristics: The sapwood of elm is nearly white, while the heartwood is light brown to brown with a reddish tinge. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste.

Weight
Species	MC	SG	Weight
Species	MC	SG	lb/ft3	kg/m3
Ulmus alata	Green	0.60	60	960
(winged elm)a	12%	0.66	42	673
	Ovendry	0.73	NA	NA
Ulmus americana	Green	0.46	54	865
(American elm)b	12%	0.50	35	561
	Ovendry	0.55	NA	NA
Ulmus crassifolia	Green	0.59	59	945
(cedar elm)a	12%	0.64	41	657
	Ovendry	0.70	NA	NA
Ulmus rubra	Green	0.48	56	897
(slippery elm)b	12%	0.53	37	593
	Ovendry	0.57	NA	NA
Ulmus thomasii	Green	0.57	53	849
(rock elm)b	12%	0.63	44	705
	Ovendry	0.66	NA	NA

aReference (90).

bReferences: specific gravity, green and 12%, (98); specific gravity, ovendry (59); weight, (59).

Mechanical propertiesa
Property Green				Dry
Ulmus alata (winged elm)a
MOE	1.21 x 106 lbf/in2	8.343 GPa	1.65 x 106 lbf/in2	11.377 GPa
MOR	9.20 x 103 lbf/in2	63.434 MPa	14.8 x 103 lbf/in2	102.046 MPa
C\| \|	3.70 x 103 lbf/in2	25.512 MPa	6.78 x 103 lbf/in2	46.748 MPa
Cl	0.63 x 103 lbf/in2	4.344 MPa	1.02 x 103 lbf/in2	7.033 MPa
WML	21.7 in-lbf/in3	149.622 kJ/m3	23.1 in-lbf/in3	159.275 kJ/m3
Hardness	1,1140lbf	5,070.72 N	1,540 lbf	6,849.92 N
Shear\| \|	1.30 x 103 lbf/in2	8.963 MPa	2.37 x 103 lbf/in2	16.341 MPa
Ulmus Americana (American elm)b
MOE	1.11 x 106 lbf/in2	7.653 GPa	1.34 x 106 lbf/in2	9.239 GPa
MOR	7.20 x 103 lbf/in2	49.644 MPa	11.8 x 103 lbf/in2	81.361 MPa
C\| \|	2.91 x 103 lbf/in2	20.064 MPa	5.52 x 103 lbf/in2	38.060 MPa
Cl	0.36 x 103 lbf/in2	2.482 MPa	0.69 x 103 lbf/in2	4.758 MPa
WML	11.8 in-lbf/in3	81.361 kJ/m3	13.0 in-lbf/in3	89.635 kJ/m3
Hardness	620 lbf	2,757.76 N	830 lbf	3,691.84 N
Shear\| \|	1.00 x 103 lbf/in2	6.895 MPa	1.51 x 103 lbf/in2	10.411 MPa
Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm)a
MOE	1.17 x 106 lbf/in2	8.067 GPa	1.48 x 106 lbf/in2	10.205 GPa
MOR	9.20 x 103 lbf/in2	63.434 MPa	13.5 x 103 lbf/in2	93.083 MPa
C\| \|	3.37 x 103 lbf/in2	23.236 MPa	6.02 x 103 lbf/in2	41.508 MPa
Cl	0.60 x 103 lbf/in2	4.137 MPa	0.95 x 103 lbf/in2	6.550 MPa
WML	20.0 in-lbf/in3	137.900 kJ/m3	18.6 in-lbf/in3	128.247 kJ/m3
Hardness	1,100 lbf	4,892.80 N	1,320 lbf	5,871.36 N
Shear\| \|	1.32 x 103 lbf/in2	9.101 MPa	2.24 x 103 lbf/in2	15.444 MPa
Ulmus rubra (slippery elm)b
MOE	1.23 x 106 lbf/in2	8.481 GPa	1.49 x 106 lbf/in2	10.274 GPa
MOR	8.00 x 103 lbf/in2	55.160 MPa	13.0 x 103 lbf/in2	89.635 MPa
C\| \|	3.32 x 103 lbf/in2	22.891 MPa	6.36 x 103 lbf/in2	43.852 MPa
Cl	0.42 x 103 lbf/in2	2.896 MPa	0.82 x 103 lbf/in2	5.654 MPa
WML	15.4 in-lbf/in3	106.183 kJ/m3	16.9 in-lbf/in3	116.526 kJ/m3
Hardness	660 lbf	2,935.68 N	860 lbf	3,825.28 N
Shear\| \|	1.11 x 103 lbf/in2	7.653 MPa	1.63 x 103 lbf/in2	11.238 MPa
Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)b
MOE	1.19 x 106 lbf/in2	8.205 GPa	1.54 x 106 lbf/in2	10.618 GPa
MOR	9.50 x 103 lbf/in2	65.503 MPa	14.8 x 103 lbf/in2	102.046 MPa
C\| \|	3.78 x 103 lbf/in2	26.063 MPa	7.05 x 103 lbf/in2	48.610 MPa
Cl	0.61 x 103 lbf/in2	4.206 MPa	1.23 x 103 lbf/in2	8.481 MPa
WML	19.8 in-lbf/in3	136.521 kJ/m3	19.2 in-lbf/in3	132.384 kJ/m3
Hardness	940 lbf	4,181.12 N	1,320 lbf	5,871.36 N
Shear\| \|	1.27 x 103 lbf/in2	8.756 MPa	1.92 x 103 lbf/in2	13.238 MPa

aReference (90).
bReference (98).

Drying and shrinkagea
	Percentage of shrinkage (green to final moisture content)
Type of shrinkage	0% MC	6% MC	20% MC
Tangential
Ulmus alata (winged elm)	11.6	NA	NA
Ulmus americana (American elm)	9.5	7.6	3.2
Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm)	10.2	NA	NA
Ulmus rubra (slippery elm)	8.9	7.1	3.0
Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)	8.1	6.5	2.7
Radial
Ulmus alata (winged elm)	5.3	NA	NA
Ulmus americana (American elm)	4.2	3.4	1.4
Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm)	4.7	NA	NA
Ulmus rubra (slippery elm)	4.9	3.9	1.6
Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)	4.8	3.8	1.6
Volumetric
Ulmus alata (winged elm)	17.7	NA	NA
Ulmus americana (American elm)	14.6	11.7	4.9
Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm)	15.4	NA	NA
Ulmus rubra (slippery elm)	13.8	11.0	4.6
Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)	14.9	11.3	4.7
aReferences: 0% MC, (98); 6% and 20%, (90).
Kiln drying schedulea
4/4, 5/4,	6/4 8/4	10/4	12/4	16/4
Species stock	stock	stock	stock	stock
Standard T6-B3	T3-B2	T3-B2	T3-B1	T3-A1
aReferences (6, 86).

Working Properties: Elm is moderately heavy, hard and stiff, with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.

Durability: Rated as slightly or nonresistant to heartwood decay.

Preservation: Slippery elm is classed as permeable to preservatives, and rock elm, resistant.

Uses: Boxes, baskets, crates, cheese boxes, slack cooperage, furniture, caskets, hockey sticks, veneer, pulp and paper manufacture.

Toxicity: No information available at this time. Additional Reading: 16, 29, 55, 68, 74.

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