Slippery Elm Bark

Ulmus rubra, an elm tree species native to eastern North America more commonly known as Red Elm, is a deciduous tree that can grow to around 60' tall. The slimy red inner bark that is hidden behind the rougher outer layer is often used for medicinal and crafting purposes.

## Description

This is the inner bark, rather than the outer hard bark, of an elm tree. The tree itself can be identified by its serrated, asymmetrical leaves that come to a long point.

As a prepared reagent, it is often creamy-hued shredded fibers or, sometimes, powdered. It has a mildly sweet, maple scent and flavor.

### Magical Properties

While not all potions with these effects may use Slippery Elm Bark as an ingredient, these are traits commonly ascribed to the inner bark:

* Water element
* Earth element
* Healing: anti-inflammatory, antiseptic (used as both food and bandages), antioxidant.
* Voice restoration/anti-silencing
* Strength
* Underworld,
* communication,
* relationships,
* intuition,
* peace, arbitor, mediator
* shade,
* psychic,
* protection against lightning/electric

## Habitat

It is a deciduous tree that grows in temperate forests, upon hills, and along streams. It is usually found in upland areas where the soil drains easily.

### How to Collect

The inner bark is best harvested in the spring, when the sap is in the bark rather than in the roots, which makes it easier to remove (and quite slippery!). It can be harvested at any time of year, however, with a bit more effort. The bark itself peels away easily from any small branch if you score the bark and pull away a strip of it.

It is unethical to harvest from the main trunk of a living tree, as that could damage the tree and leave it susceptible to insects and illness. Best options are to harvest from low branches or the stumps of fallen trees, unless you also need the heartwood for timber.

### How to Prepare

Take your bark strip and remove the corky outer layer, which protected the tree. If you roll it up, the outer bark can pop off fairly easily from the fibrous inner layer. Then, dry the inner layer. It is often then shredded into small fibers for easier portioning or to turn into thread for textile use, but can also be powdered. However, simply moistening a strip of this inner bark can serve as a bandage for wounds and burns.

## Gardening

It is not usually found in ornamental gardens, but is popular in yards transplanted for medicinal purposes.

The trees are rather easy to grow, preferring fertile, moist, but well-drained soil in full sun but surviving in less ideal conditions. They can be grown from the papery-winged seeds when they are ripe. The seeds should be air-dried for several days before planting in moist, rich soil. Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted to larger pots or straight into a garden. The young trees grow rather quickly, compared to other tree species.

## Known Uses of Slippery Elm Bark

* All Healing Potions and Healing Salves
* Greater Swiftness Potion
* Crafting archery bows
* ...?

The inner bark can also be used to make bowstrings, rope, thread, fabric, woven mats, etc. The wood itself is sometimes used to make archery bows, wagon wheels, and fence posts.