Literary notes about elm (AI summary)
In several literary and botanical texts the term “elm” serves as a subtle, naturalistic color cue rather than merely a reference to a tree. For example, authors distinguish between varieties by using descriptors like “white elm” to evoke a soft, luminous quality [1] and note the contrasting textures in its buds compared to those of the “slippery elm” [2]. In other instances a simple label—such as “Red Elm” [3] or the contrast drawn with the common, or American, elm [4]—adds a layer of specificity that not only aids in botanical identification but also enriches the narrative with an earthy, organic palette. Thus, when “elm” is used in this fashion, it underscores nature’s diversity by lending a quiet, yet evocative, color quality to the literary landscape.
- Elms, plainly the white elm, Ulmus Americana , so called in contradistinction to the red or slippery elm, Ulmus fulva .
— from Voyages of Samuel De Champlain — Volume 03 by Samuel de Champlain - The buds of the white elm are smooth, those of the slippery-elm are hairy .
— from On the Trail: An Outdoor Book for Girls by Lina Beard - Red Elm .
— from Wood and Forest by William Noyes - Contrast the slippery elm ( Fig. 205 ) and the common or American elm ( Fig. 211 ).
— from Cornell Nature-Study Leaflets Being a selection, with revision, from the teachers' leaflets, home nature-study lessons, junior naturalist monthlies and other publications from the College of Agriculture, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1896-1904 by New York State College of Agriculture
