This medium-sized native tree has a light gray bark with deep, forking ridges (B). The leaves are alternate on the twigs, elliptic, sharply pointed and usually unequal at their base. The leaf margins are doubly toothed, with small teeth along the lower edge of the larger ones. A pair of lance-shaped stipules is found at the base of fresh leaves (A). The dark brown flower buds have smooth scales (C). The flower clusters, with unequal flower stalks, appear before the leaves (D,E). The fruit, a flat samara, has a notched tip and hairy margin; it appears in clusters by April and may be seen scattered on the ground as well (F). The typical elm winter twig silhouette is shown at (G). When compared to our three other elms, Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) has spherical buds and round samaras with smooth margins. Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra) has buds with dense, red-brown hairs. Cork Elm (Ulmus thomasii) has slim buds and corky branches.