FRAXINUS AMERICANA, L. 163 



without a limb. In open ground the trunk, separating at a 

 height of a few feet, throws off two or three large limbs, and 

 is soon lost amid the slender, often gently curving branches, 

 forming a rather open, rounded head widest at or near the 

 base, with light and graceful foliage, and a stout, rather 

 sparse, glabrous, and sometimes flattish spray. 



Bark. Bark of trunk in mature trees easily distinguish- 

 able at some distance by the characteristic gray color and 

 uniform striatum; ridges prominent, narrow, flattish, firm, 

 without surface scales but with fine transverse seams ; furrows 

 fine and strong, sinuous, parallel or connecting at intervals ; 

 large limbs more or less furrowed; smaller branches smooth 

 and grayish-green ; season's shoots polished olive green ; 

 leaf -scars prominent. 



Winter Buds and Leaves. Buds short, rather prominent, 

 smooth, dark or pale rusty brown. Leaves pinnately com- 

 pound, opposite, 6-12 inches long ; petiole smooth and grooved ; 

 leaflets 5-9, 2-5 inches long, deep green and smooth above, 

 paler and smooth, or slightly pubescent (at least when 

 young) beneath; ovate to lance -oblong, entire or somewhat 

 toothed; apex pointed; base obtuse, rounded or sometimes 

 acute ; leaflet stalks short, smooth ; stipules and stipels none. 



Inflorescence. May. In loose panicles from lateral or 

 terminal buds of the previous season's shoots, sterile and 

 fertile flowers for the most part on separate trees, numer- 

 ous, inconspicuous ; calyx in sterile flowers 4-toothed, petals 

 none, stamens 2-4, anthers oblong; calyx in fertile flowers 

 unequally 4-toothed or nearly entire, persistent ; petals none, 

 stamens none, pistil 1, style 1, stigma 2-cleft. 



Fruit. Ripening in early fall, and hanging in clusters 

 into the winter ; a samara or key 1-2 inches long, body nearly 

 terete, marginless below, dilating from near the tip into a 

 wing two or three times as long as the body. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy throughout New England ; pre- 

 fers a rich, moist, loamy soil, but grows in any well-drained 

 situation ; easily transplanted, usually obtainable in nurseries, 

 and can be collected successfully. It is one of the most 

 desirable native trees for landscape and street plantations, on 



