The smooth-leaved elm is a more warmth-loving species than the wych elm and is found in Europe only as far north as the Baltic Sea. It grows mainly in the lowlands on alluvial deposits in mixed woods, together with oak, alder and poplar. It reaches a height of 30 metres, and may attain an age of several hundred years, growing a thick trunk. The globular flower buds can alr,ady be distinguished in winter.

It grows to an age of 600 to 800 years and, in the open, develops a huge trunk and broad crown. Under ideal conditions, heights of 40 metres can be attained: Up to about 20 to 30 years of age the bark is smooth and grey, in older trees it tends to become blackish-grey and deeply furrowed. The leaves are alternate with a lobed margin.

The male flowers are in yellowish, slender, pendent catkins about 3 to 8 (10) centimetres long, the tiny globular female flowers are grouped in clusters of two to three on erect stalks one to three centimetres long; they appear at the beginning of May. The fruit, or acorn, is a brown elliptical nut sometimes with darker longitudinal stripes, borne in a cup on a long stalk.

The wych elm is distributed throughout most of Europe, from Spain northward to the 65th parallel, and eastward as far as the Urals. It is found both in lowland country and high up in the mountains, even above the 1000 metre mark, most frequently in moist ravines, alongside streams and in scree woods with rich soil. The wych elm is a robust tree growing up to a height of 40 metres and developing a long, cylindrical bole topped by a rounded crown. The hark is ridged with shallow longitudinal furrows.

Much like the common oak, the durmast oak tends to be somewhat smaller with a narrower crown. It has a similar range, but does not extend as far cast to regions with severe winters. Unlike the common oak it is a tree of the hills and is found at elevations up to 700 metres. It does not require soil as rich as the common oak, and even tolerates stony, acid soils. However, it requires plenty of light to thrive well. The durmast oak reaches a height of 30 to 40 metres, and its trunk is straighter than, but not as thick as, that of the common oak. The flowers, appearing 10 to 14 days later than those of the common oak, resemble them, but the female flowers, unlike those of its relative, are pressed close to the twig. The mature acorns are borne on very short stalks close to the twig.

They are usually smaller, and lack the longitudinal stripes when freshly shed. The durmast oak does not begin bearing fruit until a fairly advanced age, about 40 to 60 years. It grows in mixed stands with the hornbeam and beech, in poorer and more acidic soils together with the pine and birch, and on dry, warm slopes in the company of the service tree, common or field maple, and other sun-loving woody plants. The wood is of similar quality, and has the same uses, as that of the common oak.