Planera aquatica

Water Elm is a native deciduous small tree or large shrub in the Elm Family (ULMACEAE). It can be found throughout Alabama. Water Elm occurs on the banks of rivers and streams, in floodplain forests, and along sloughs and ox-bows. Water Elm is a multi-trunked large shrub or small twisted tree with numerous branches sprouting from low on the trunk. Trees rarely reach more than 18 feet in height, but can reach heights of 30-35 feet. The bark is gray to reddish brown and flakey, peeling in long strips. Leaves are alternate, short petiolate, ovate to rhombic in outline, with serrate or doubly serrate margins. The bases may be inequilateral. Leaves are dark green and shiny above and pale green below. The leaves are glabrous above and pubescent to almost glabrous on the veins on the lower leaf surface. Flowers are produced before the leaves. Staminate flowers are produced in brown buds and consist of 4-5 stamens. Pistillate flowers consist of a stalked ovary and are produced in the axils of emerging leaves. The fruit is a stalked leathery drupe with fleshy burr-like projections. Water Elm is occasionally available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a saturated soil and full sun for best growth. It is sometimes planted as a novelty (being the only species in its genus) and is used for Bonsai.--A. Diamond