Elm

The wood of the elm is very pliant and can withstand wet conditions. It was widely used in boat building, wagon wheels and bridge foundations. In medieval times, elm was frequently used to make longbows if yew was unavailable.

Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees that are widely found across the northern hemisphere. They can grow to a height of thirty metres, and live for one hundred years.

In mythology, the elm was associated with the underworld, melancholy and death, elm was traditionally used to make coffins. Elm was also used in a medicinal context; The inner bark of the elm was chewed or boiled to produce a liquid for treating colds and sore throats, and boiled bark was used to treat burns.