English Elm: is this bark normal?...

[Dario]

Hi all,
I have been meaning to ask about this for a while...I have noticed on many of the English elm trees in my local area that have some strange(?) bark growth.
It isn't on all of the trees of this species that I have seen, but it seems to be on a lot of them to some degree, including young and mature trees.
Some procera are covered in it and others just have one or two branches with it on them, which leads me to question whether it is a normal growth characteristic of the species or perhaps something else.
I love trees species that have cork bark and this is what it looks like to me which is strange as Eng elms don't have cork bark.
The other thing about it that I find puzzling, is that if it is a normal growth characteristic of the bark development, then why is it that it seems to occur on juvenile branches whilst the older branches below that are yet to exhibit the lovely mature fissured bark, don't have this growth?
If it is not part of the normal growth of the bark, then what is it and is it harmful to the tree?
I would really appreciate any help with this query as some of the trees that I wish to collect this winter have a little of this growth.
I have also looked closely at a few of the English elms that have been collected by members that also have some young branches showing this growth and I can post a couple of pics if needed.
If it is not normal, can you just cut the branches that have it on them off, or will it grow back?
Thanks in advance, Dario.

[Dario]

Sorry, the computer crashed when I tried to submit the pics so I tried to just cut n' paste them in
Second time lucky?...

Procera bark 1.JPG

Procera bark 2.JPG

Procera bark 3.JPG

Procera bark 4.JPG

Procera bark 5.JPG

Procera bark 6.JPG

Procera bark 7.JPG

[Hackimoto]

Looks very much like the winged bark that some liquidambars have, which is normal. Don't know about elms though.

[Dario]

Thanks Hackimoto, interesting
It could very well be normal but it just doesn't seem right to me ...then again, not much does
Cheers, Dario.

[chrisatrocky]

I found this on the net.

English Elm - Ulmus procera -Description: Large suckering domed tree to 30 metres, but rarely reaching maturity in Britain since the ravages of Dutch Elm Disease. Bark cracks into squares and branches have corky ridges. Leaves have 10 to 12 pairs of lateral veins. Flowers in small clusters appearing before the leaves. Fruits rounded 10 to 17 mm winged with seed above the middle.

answer your question.

chris

[Gerard]

Yes very normal

[Dario]

Hey Chris, thanks for the info mate!
It looks like it is normal then, and yes it does answer my question.
I still don't understand it though because as I understand it the mature/aged bark that this species exhibits, develops first on the oldest parts of the tree (as with all trees). And in many instances the trees still have young bark at the trunk bases that is smooth and yet to age enough to develop the nice texture that is seen on mature procera bark. Yet above this smooth bark on the younger branches, there is the weird cork looking bark that is in the above pics.
Maybe the tree sheds this bark at some stage?
Anyway I would still appreciate it if someone could explain the process to me.
Thanks, Dario.
Thanks Gerard, Can you please explain the process given my above statement (I am just trying to understand it).
Cheers, Dario.

[LLK]

I have noticed on many of the English elm trees in my local area that have some strange(?) bark growth.
It isn't on all of the trees of this species that I have seen, but it seems to be on a lot of them to some degree, including young and mature trees.
Some procera are covered in it and others just have one or two branches with it on them, which leads me to question whether it is a normal growth characteristic of the species or perhaps something else.
I love trees species that have cork bark and this is what it looks like to me which is strange as Eng elms don't have cork bark.
The other thing about it that I find puzzling, is that if it is a normal growth characteristic of the bark development, then why is it that it seems to occur on juvenile branches whilst the older branches below that are yet to exhibit the lovely mature fissured bark, don't have this growth?
If it is not part of the normal growth of the bark, then what is it and is it harmful to the tree?

The winged bark reminds me more of the 'winged elm', or Ulmus alata, an American elm. It's a popular tree, because it is smaller and more graceful than the English elm; it makes good bonsai too. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Winge ... -05-10.jpg

Lisa

[kcpoole]

I have a young Liquid Ambar that has done the same thing, but only on the upper primary trunk. Very strange it is but has been said is normal.

Ken

[Watto]

Dario,
Yours are English Elm and the bark is normal. This corking occurs first on the branches and then moves to the whole of the tree, but it will be quite some time before it migrates to the trunk proper. It is a charactistic this you should take advantage of.

[Dario]

Thanks Ken, Lisa and Watto!

Dario,
Yours are English Elm and the bark is normal. This corking occurs first on the branches and then moves to the whole of the tree, but it will be quite some time before it migrates to the trunk proper. It is a charactistic this you should take advantage of.

Yes for certain they are English elms but like Ken I still find it weird. I love this species and I am sure that it won't be long before I embrace this characteristic and learn to take advantage of it as you suggest Watto.
Is it possible to wire these young branches or does the bark break off under the pressure of the wire?
Thanks, Dario.
EDIT:spelling...didn't get any sleep last night.

[shibui]

Dario the wings will break off when wired.
Wings are usually only present on quite young branches. Older branches are smooth so I assume the wings are shed as the branches age then eventually the bark starts to thicken and crack into the mature older bark.

[Bretts]

I too wondered what the deal was with this bark. I made some online inquiries before I collected them as it can look like some sought of affliction
Winged elm was the obvious first thought but it seems that English elm is probably correct. From my discussions and observations the winged bark is most common on the smaller to medium branches and is prevalent in fast growth. It some how disappears in the older branches and Trunk. I have not seen it return to the trunk of older trees as other posts suggest.

I believe there is little need to worry about the bark when wiring. For me it simply rubs off if it is in the way.

[Dario]

Dario the wings will break off when wired.
Wings are usually only present on quite young branches. Older branches are smooth so I assume the wings are shed as the branches age then eventually the bark starts to thicken and crack into the mature older bark.

Hi Shibui, and thanks!
I was wondering wether this bark was shed as it did seem to be on the younger growth only...so I too now assume that this is the case.
Given that it is most likely that it does shed naturally I now am not worried about it breaking when wiring. I have found this bark to be very fragile and can't imagine it staying it tact when wiring. As Bretts also mentioned, he simply rubs it off when wiring and not to worry about it.

I too wondered what the deal was with this bark. I made some online inquiries before I collected them as it can look like some sought of affliction
quote]
Thanks Bretts, this was the very reason that I posted this thread!

From my discussions and observations the winged bark is most common on the smaller to medium branches and is prevalent in fast growth. It some how disappears in the older branches and Trunk. I have not seen it return to the trunk of older trees as other posts suggest.

Yes it does seem to be on the smaller to medium branches, and fast growing may very well explain it as I have seen smaller trees that are attached to the same sucker root system that are growing poorly and do not exhibit this bark...but the vigorous growing trees (that are still relatively young) have it in spades.

Winged elm was the obvious first thought but it seems that English elm is probably correct.

Thanks again Bretts, I am pretty sure that they are English elms, but it also looks exactly like the link Lisa attached of the winged elm, Ulmus alata...I it all very interesting and it has made me much more attentive of the elms in my area.
As a side note I have noticed that the EE's posted by Bodhi, Will Baddely and others all seem to have a lovely grey colour to the trunk and branches. Same as the aged trees in my local gardens that are listed as procera.
Yet some of the aged trees at other locations, have a brown colour about them (some a very pronounced brown, others even darker towards a black).
There are even some younger trees attached to the same root/sucker system that have both of these colours on their trunks. It isn't filth and grime attributing to these differences either.
Do procera as a species hybridise or have variences that would explain these differences?
Thanks to all that have contributed I very much appreciate it and I have already learnt a lot!
Cheers, Dario.

[bodhidharma]

E.E's change to a silver grey as they get older and healthier. When they are dark their health is suffering.