Scientific Name
Ulmus alata
Trade Name
Winged elm
Family Name
Common Names
Elm, Hard elm, Rock elm, Wahoo, Winged elm
Regions of Distribution
North America
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
United States
Common Uses
Baskets, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Farm vehicles, Figured veneer, Food containers, Interior construction, Interior trim, Machinery parts, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Plywood, Skids, Trimming, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wheels
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Distribution Overview
Winged elm occurs from southern Virginia, south to central Florida, west to central Texas, and north to central Missouri. Its habitat is described as the dry uplands, including abandoned fields, and is also found in moist valleys in hardwood forests. It grows from sea level to elevations of up to 2000 feet (610 m).
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Light brown | ||||||||||||
| Golden brown with a reddish cast | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Green/Grey | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Occasionally interlocked, but not always |
Texture
| Coarse |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Low |
Natural Durability
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Very little natural resistance |
Odor
| Has an odor | ||||||||||||
| No specific smell or taste |
Kiln Schedules
| T6-B3(4/4) | ||||||||||||
| T3-B2 (8/4)US |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Ring failure |
Ease of Drying
| Thick Stock Requires Care | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Easy | ||||||||||||
| Dries at a fairly rapid rate |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 10-20 m |
Comments
Similar to rock elm, inner bark was used in the 18th and 19th centeries to rope for fastening covers of cotton batles
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw |
Gluing
| Good properties |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable heartwood |
Sanding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Turning
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Steam Bending
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Impact Strength | 41 | inches | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.53 | 0.65 | |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 11 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 17 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Impact Strength | 104 | cm | |
| Specific Gravity | 0.53 | 0.65 | |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 11 | % |
References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin.
Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.
Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.