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A spice bush (Lindera benzoin) and an elm (Ulmus sp.) have volunteered next to one another in a bed of fringe trees (Chionanthus virginicus) located near the campus Fitness Center. Our previous post was devoted to the spice bush. In this post, we take a look at the young elm.
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At less than two years old, this elm is already three feet tall. It's growing at the bottom of a gradual slope, next to a concrete drainage channel. Right now, this is a full sun location.
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As seen in the above photo, the young elm does not have a single leader; it is attempting to develop a divided trunk. Ought we allow this, or should we intervene to encourage a single stem?
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The tree seems committed to having two trunks: the two stems appear to be of the same thickness and length.
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| These are simple leaves alternating along the stem. Since we do not see 'wings' along the stems, we will refrain from identifying this as a winged elm (Ulmus alata). |
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This leaf is 3 inches long, with a miniscule petiole. It has an ovate shape that tapers to a sharp point. The upper surface is rough, gritty like sandpaper, which is characterisitic of slippery elm (Ulmus rubra).
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Underneath, leaves are light green.
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Leaf margins are doubly serrated, which is typical of elm leaves. However, the base is interestingly symmetrical, which tells us that this isn't a slippery elm (Ulmus rubra).
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The arboretum is home to one slippery elm and three winged elms, as well as a cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia). Elms are known to hybridize, so perhaps we have a hybrid. Close examination of the other elms will be helpful in understanding more about the new recruit.
