Trying to figure out exactly the difference between the elms around here. I know American, red/slippery, and rock elm grow around here. I'm having a difficult time identifying them based off Google images though. I did my best to take good pictures of the trees in question. First tree: Very raised and corky bark, growing more like a tree rather than a large bush. Second tree: Branches much lower, harder flattened scaley bark and less spongy feeling. They just look so different to me that they must be different elms but I'm not sure which is which. Thanks for any help
I could be wrong but I think the first one with the coarser bark is a red elm. The second with the tighter smaller grained bark is the american elm. Red elm will also hold a red or light pinkish color in the heartwood even if it is dead standing. And also tends to be a little more straight grained. The american elm will be light almost white all the way through and have a definite twisting grain noticeable when splitting.
I’m going to watch this one close! I cut a bunch today and there’s tons standing dead around here, but I’ve never paid much attention. I’m thinking most is American elm here? Here’s some on the truck (mainly highlighting the long straight lighter color pole in the center and the east west round bottom right) cut green earlier this year I’ve always called it American elm
American Elm is what I call that as well (center pole) decent firewood & splits ok if dry. Red Elm is decent as well. Chinese/pizz elm I'll avoid, stringy & less btu's. PITA to split.
American elm has alternating bands of dark (red or brown) and cream/white when you break off a chunk of bark. Like this:
I remember reading that but I'm somewhat color blind so I'm having a hard time telling what's going on in the cross sections I took. This is a piece of the "cork" from another one nearby. I didn't slice it down to the inner bark, just peeled off a piece with my hand.
