It reaches a height of 20 to 50 feet. The straight, shapely trunk bears a round-topped head composed of small branches, which makes it an attractive shade tree.
The LEAVES are [deciduous], [oblong], 3 to 6 inches in length, 1½ to 3 inches wide, equally toothed or notched on the edges, resembling the leaves of chestnut oak. The [FRUIT], which ripens in the fall of the first season, is light to dark brown when ripe, and edible if roasted. This acorn is ½ to nearly 1 inch long, usually less than 1 inch in diameter, and set in a shallow cup.
The WOOD is heavy, hard, strong, durable, and takes an excellent polish. It is used for barrels, fencing, crossties, fuel, and occasionally for furniture.
CHINKAPIN OAK (Leaf, one-half natural size; twig and [fruit], one-third natural size)
AMERICAN ELM (White Elm)
Ulmus americana L.
The range of this famous American shade tree extends west to the Dakotas and southward to Coke County, Texas. Within this vast area, it is generally common except in the high mountains and wet bottomlands. It reaches an average height of 60 feet and a diameter of 3 feet. The [BARK] is dark gray, divided into irregular flat-topped, thick ridges, and is generally firm. An incision into an outer ridge of bark will show [alternate] brown and cream colored layers. A cross section of slippery elm bark is uniformly cream or tan colored.
AMERICAN ELM (Twig, one-half natural size; leaf and [fruit], one-third natural size)
The LEAVES are [alternate], [simple], 4 to 6 inches long, rather thick, somewhat lopsided, double toothed on the margin, and either smooth or [scabrous] above and soft [pubescent] or [glabrate] below. The leaf [veins] are very pronounced and run in parallel lines from the [midrib] to the leaf margin.