Witch elm

This is a tree also spelled as "wych elm". The species grows in the British Isles, with its close relatives in Europe from Scandinavia to Italy, as well as in the Arctic Circle and parts of Asia. This tree is also called Scots elm and Ulmus glabra since it grows very much in the north in Scotland as it enjoys harsh winters. Regarded as a tree that heals wounds, especially with it's astringent properties in the leaves and bark. Its leaves and fruit is edible. 

Despite it's magical sounding name, the word "witch" refers to the supple type of wood, coming from Old English "wice", hence the other spelling. Also even though witch elm is pliant, it's water proof and has got some fighting spirit against Dutch elm disease although not totally immune. There are many types of elms so in Britain don't confuse witch-elm (or wych elm) with English elm. English elms are tall and slender, while witch elms are bulky shaped.

Wych elms are often associated with death and darkness in folklore. Its long believed that wands were made from witch elm. These trees were connected to the Underworld in Celtic mythology, In Greek myth, the very first witch elm grew right where Orpheus played music for his undead lover Eurydice that he rescued from the Underworld. The nymph of the west, named Erytheia, turned herself into a witch elm tree in the Garden of Hesperides. A chilling mystery happened in 1944 when children were playing and then they discovered a dead woman inside the hollow of a witch elm tree. To this day the victim is unknown but still someone keeps writing graffiti "Who put Bella in the wych elm?"      

Witch elms or wych elms do well for industry and can make excellent weapons as people have used the wood to create bows. These trees have been favoured to build coffins, wheels, piers, groynes and underground pipes because the wood is so water proof. Witch elms tolerate the most polluted cities, and they can produce yellow dye.

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