7 he Madronas 133 



ARBUTUS MENZIESII, Pursh. MADRONA 



Common names: Madrona, manzanita, arbutus. 

 French name; Arbousier de Menzies. 



The madrona reaches the northern Uinit of its range in southern British 

 Columbia where it is found on both sides of the straits of Georgia and on the islands 

 therein, as far north as Bute inlet on the mainland. 



It is not a large tree, very often low and shrubby with crooked, bent trunk and 

 branches. The bark is thin and reddish-brown, and, on young stems and branches, 

 comes off in thin, smooth plates or flakes very much in the same manner as does that 

 of the sycamore {Platanus occidefitalis) . 



The tree is readily distinguished by its shiny fohage which remains green all 

 winter. It is the only broad-leaved tree native to Canada that is an evergreen. 

 The leaves are 2 to 5 in. long, shiny above and whitish beneath, smooth, thick and 

 leathery. 



The fruit is spherical, berry-like in appearance, bright red in colour, dry, and 

 mealy and contains many small seeds. Great numbers of these fruits ripen in the 

 autumn. 



Further south in its range this tree reaches commercial size and is sometimes 

 sawn into lumber. The wood is dense, fine-grained, and very hard when seasoned. 

 It is used for flooring and interior finish. 



THE ASHES 



There are about forty species of ash (Fraxinus) found throughout the world. 

 Sixteen species occur in North America and of these four are found in Canada. Of 

 the native species all are eastern trees, one extending as far west as lake Winni- 

 peg. A fifth ash, a variety of one of the eastern species, is found throughout the 

 prairie region. 



The winter buds, leaves, and twigs of all the ashes come out in pairs from op- 

 posite sides of the branch. In this respect they resemble the maples and certain 

 dogwoods, but the difference in fruit and leaves will readily distinguish them from 

 these trees. The so-called mountain ash {Pyrus americana) is not a true ash and 

 has not this opposite branching. 



The wood of the different ashes is noted for its toughness and elasticity, but 

 great differences exist among the five native species. The more valuable species 

 are used for vehicle stock, tool-handles and interior finish. 



FRAXINUS QUADRANGULATA, Michx. BLUE ASH 



Common name: Blue ash. 

 French name: Frene anguleux. 



The blue ash is confined to southwestern Ontario in the counties bordering on 

 lakes Erie and St. Clair, but is not very common even there. Under favourable 



