64 



THE ASH. 



scarcely apparent. In its earlier stage of growth, the mass 

 of unexpanded flowers is not unlike an irregularly granu- 

 lated fruit; it eventually becomes diffuse, and is finally 

 succeeded by bunches of pendent seeds, not inappropriately 

 called keys. 1 They differ from the keys of the Sycamore 



FLOWERS AND SEED-VESSELS OP THE ASH. 



in growing singly, instead of in pairs, but like them are 

 winged, and remain firmly attached to the tree, until the 

 season when winds prevail sufficiently powerful to strip 

 them from the branches and carry them a considerable 



1 The Latins termed the seed of the Ash lingua avis (bird's tongue), 

 from some fancied resemblance in shape. 



