The species differs from its closest relative, the American elm, mainly in the irregular crown structure and frequent epicormic shoots, features which also give the tree a distinctive winter silhouette. Republished 2004 Cambridge University Press, Bean, W. J. (1981). Trees and shrubs hardy in Great Britain, 7th edition. Murray, London. The American elm also has less acute leaf buds, longer petioles, narrower leaves, and a deeper apical notch in the samara which reaches the seed.Chater, A. O. (1996).'Ulmus laevis naturalized in Cards, VC46'. BSBI News 75  p.63. Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland.
