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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Ulmus crassifolia Trade Name Cedar elm Family Name Common Names Basket elm, Cedar elm, Elm, Olmo, Red elm, Rock elm, Southern rock 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 Endangered Extinct Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The growth range of Cedar elm extends from extreme southwestern Tennessee, south to Mississippi, west to southern Texas and extreme northeastern Mexico, and north to southern Oklahoma. It is also reported to occur locally in northern Florida. The tree is often found growing with other hardwoods at elevations of up to 1500 feet (457 m), and prefers moist soils along streams as well as upland limestone hills. Heartwood Color Brown Black Light brown Golden brown with a reddish cast Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Light brown Brown Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Fine Medium Luster Low Natural Durability Durable Very durable Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Splitting Ease of Drying Rapidly Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fair to good results Poor to very poor results Fairly difficult to very difficult Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.49 0.62 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.49 0.62 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % References 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. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.