VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Ulmus rubra | Slippery Elm 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Slippery elm is not an important lumber tree.  The wood is considered
inferior to that of American elm (U. americana) even though both are
mixed and sold together as soft elm [26,35].  Slippery elm is used in
the manufacture of boxes, baskets, crates, and barrels [37].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
The seeds of slippery elm are eaten by birds and small mammals.  Deer
and rabbits browse the twigs [10,31].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Slippery elm trees provide thermal cover and nesting sites for a variety
of primary and secondary cavity nesters [17,19].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
The bark of slippery elm contains a mucilaginous substance that was used
as a treatment for coughs and diarrhea by the early settlers.  It has
also been used as a street ornamental, but its use is limited due to
Dutch elm disease [10,32,37].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Slippery elm is susceptible to many of the same diseases as American
elm.  It is attacked and killed by Dutch elm disease, caused by the
fungus Ceratocystis ulmi [5,33].  Throughout much of its range, it is
also killed by elm yellows or elm phloem necrosis.  These two diseases
are so virulent and widespread that slippery elm seldom reaches
commercial size and volume as a forest tree, and it is being replaced as
a street tree in many localities.  In mixed-hardwood stands, bark
stripping by deer is more frequent on stems of saplings and on roots of
pole-sized trees [10].

Related categories for Species: Ulmus rubra | Slippery Elm