Form: Medium sized, 60 - 70 ft. in height, 18 - 30 in. in dbh.

Leaves:
             

Arrangement: alternate; simple

Shape: elliptical to obovate

Margin: doubly serrate

Texture: scabrous above, pubescent below

Venation: parallel

Bark: Red brown bark, non-diamond shaped fissures, does not show patches or streaks when sectioned. Mucilaginous inner bark.

Twigs and buds: Ash to brown gray in color, scabrous, buds pubescent. Buds are chestnut brown to black in color.

Flowers and fruit: Flowers appear in short pedicelled fascicles.

Distinguishing characteristics: Doubly serrated leaf, scabrous leaf and twig, bud more stout that American Elm buds.

Range: Southern Maine west to Nebraska, south to Louisiana.

Silvics: Intermediate tolerance. Rich, moist bottomlands, along streams.

Ecological and cultural importance: Not important for lumber, used in manufacture of boxes, baskets and crates. Seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals, twigs are browsed by deer and rabbits.