American elms used to be famous for the unusual vase shape of their crown. The spreading limbs and pendulous branchlets produced the fountaining effect. They certainly looked beautiful when bordering streets, but another valuable side of their cultivation was that elms did not obstruct vision for drivers, at the same time, producing nice and deep shade. The <i>Flora of North America</i> (v. 3, 1997) says "the species still exists in substantial numbers both as shade trees and in nature." This note apparently does not refer to cultivated elms in the Boston area. Photo credit Luba Batuner