Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Plants of Cedar Creek

Three species of Ulmus (Elms) are found on the Area.  U. americana (American Elm) is a wet-mesic tree that has suffered severely from Dutch Elm disease, and only a few have survived.  U. rubra (Slippery Elm) is a fairly uncommon tree found in some mesic woodlands.  The outer bark of American Elm has alternating white and brown layers, while in Slippery Elm layers are uniformly brown.  U. pumila (Siberian Elm) is an introduced small tree that has invaded a few fields (LC, LP..).

A single individual of Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry) has been found in the dry oak woods along NSLR.  This species is common in the southern half of Minnesota in mesic forests, but is generally restricted to floodplains this far north.