Range: Nova Scotia across to southern Manitoba, south to central Texas, east to south-central Florida.

Uses: Bark was used to cover the long houses in the summer village. In spring, the fast growing tree bark floats on top of a growing meristem which makes it easy to strip off. Elm bark was also used to make baskets and temporary canoes. The most common type of canoe, the dugout, was made of hickory or elm because they were large canopy trees that provided long straight trunks. The tree was burned to cut it down, burned to remove the top, and hot coals were placed inside to hollow it out.

Size: moderate tree up to 24 m (80 feet).

Leaves and Flowers: Leaves are alternate, simple, oval, uneven base, and double serrated. Leaves are 11-15 cm (5-7 inches) long, rough on both sides, and twigs are hairy.

Flowers have dark red anthers and reddish-purple stigmas. Fruit is a nut surrounded by broad, thin, circular, veined wings.

Habitat: bottomland woods; along streams; rocky, upland woods.

Range: Quebec across Ontario to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Uses: Bark was used to cover the long houses in the summer village. In spring, the fast growing tree bark floats on top of a growing meristem which makes it easy to strip off. Elm bark was also used to make baskets. The dugout canoe was sewn with basswood fiber and caulked with shredded Slippery Elm fiber and pitch. Elm bark canoes were called "wikopimish"; they were temporary canoes.