Quote:
Originally Posted by lio45
The leaves of my "maybe elm" look like the leaves of yellow birch and ironwood, but the tree is neither, and has bark almost like a cedar.
It's not growing in the open, and the only reason I could even see leaves is that it sprouted a few at trunk level.
So far, does all of this sound like a plausible elm to you...?
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uhhh.........
Bark on all 4 is quite distinct.
Leaves are closer..........but have some very discernible differences.
(not being snarky, just saying)
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.inf...erican-elm.jpg
This is American Elm........notice the distinct slant at the base of the leaf on one side.
That does not exist on Birch or Ironwood.
Slippery/Red Elm the slant is a bit less conspicuous but still there.
The Bark on yellow birch doesn't peel like paper birch but it is peel-ish, coming off horizontal stripes.
Cedar is also a very peel-ish tree, albeit off vertical lines, and much more fibrous as opposed to papery.
Elm bark and Ironwood bark don't look the same, but honestly hard to explain the difference easily, neither peel at all, if healthy. I went and looked at pictures to remind myself........and I would simply say, look at leaf and form (where possible).
Also Ironwood doesn't get nearly as tall as elm.
Ironwood caps out at about 40ft.
American Elm can hit 100ft.