I have a shrub growing in my yard, planted there or maybe left there by previous owner. It's bark is unusual for it's wing like. The main stems themselves are more oval than round, with the wing like protrusions 180 degrees from each other. The plant has small leaves, and no fruit or flowers that I have seen. I'm in southern Missouri, and I see these everywhere. Anyone have an idea what it could be?

Hi, Missouri Bound!

Would it be possible for you to post an image here, of the entire shrub as well as a close-up of the leaves, please?

Thanks!

Hi! Missouri Bound,

A pix would be nice, but from your description you wouldn't be asking 'bout Eucalyptus, would you?

Eucalyptus sideroxylon characteristics (http://www.cuyamaca.edu/oh170/Characteristic%20Pages/Eucalyptus%20sideroxylon.asp) or any of the Myrtaceae - Myrtle family?

K

This is what I am questioning.

That is either a birch or beech tree. I haven't nailed it down yet, but I'm positive it's one or the other.

K

Please keep in mind that this is a close up... the shrub is only 3 feet tall, and the picture is of a stem perhaps 1/2" in diameter... without the wings. Again it's native here, but I never saw one in Illinois, where I moved from. And I' am familiar with Birch trees... and I don't think it's that.

MB, what you have there is a River Birch.

http://z.about.com/d/forestry/1/0/5/A/rbirch.jpg

Check the map, what part of Illinois were you from?
The dark shading indicates range.

http://z.about.com/d/forestry/1/0/x/o/bnigra.jpg

When they're young they'll look like shrubs.

http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmwalks/1/plantimages/Betulanigra06-200.jpg

Check back in 10years or so an it'll look like the top image.

Here's some more images on this site:
river birch, Betula nigra (Fagales: Betulaceae) @ Forestry Images (http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=3256)

K

I appreciate all the responses, but I have an answer from a local nursery, and without a doubt it is a winged elm. Perennials & Bamboo, Perennials & Bamboo Nursery (http://www.tytyga.com/category/Perennial+Plants)

That's good news MB, I stand corrected.

I was going by the bark's characteristic, circled on your photo (horizontal lenticels on smooth bark), that Beech, Birch, and some Elm's :o have, but was unfamiliar with the Elm's ability to "paper/layer" its bark like that.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_80cGISOzOds/SsVTOTfi_mI/AAAAAAAAA3I/XVUhP15f7jI/s800/wing%20bark%20001a.JPG

wikipedia Winged_Elm (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Elm)

I give myself a "reddie" on this one... k

Kuxj.. no problem. And I've lived here for almost 4 years and just now finding out what it is. My property is full of oak trees, and the woods on the property is full of cedar, oak and some paw paw trees. I've got dogwood and redbud, but this one just doesn't fit the rest of the landscape... maybe I'll give it a couple of years before I decide to remove it. Anyway, thanks again for your response

Your welcome.

Steve