Slippery Elm – Ulmus rubra

Tree with broad, open, flat-topped crown of spreading branches and large rough leaves. Height: 70 feet.

The thick, slightly fragrant, edible, gluelike inner bark is dried and afterwards moistened for use as a cough medicine or as a poultice. This “slippery” inner bark (found by chewing through the outer bark of a twig) is helpful in identification. The Latin species name refers to the large brown buds covered with rust-colored hairs.