OLEACEAB 239 



cent and glaucous beneath ; petioles and young branches smooth. 

 F. acuminata. Lam. $ FL Cestr. ed. 2. p. 8. 

 AMERICAN FRAXINUS. Ash. White Ash. 



Stem 50 to 80 feet high ; young branches smooth, marked with white dots. Leaflet* 

 3 to 5 inches long, acuminate, slightly dentate ; petioles about 3 inches in length, 

 below the leaflets. Samaras 1 to 1% inches long spatulate-linear, obtuse, tapering 

 and terete at base, in long loose racemes. 

 Hob. Borders of woods, and low meadow grounds: common. FL May. Fr. 



Obs. The timber of this tree is highly valued by wheel-wrights, 

 coach-makers, c. while the offal wood makes excellent fuel. 



2. P. pubescens, Walt. Leaflets elliptic-lanceolate, densely 

 pubescent beneath ; petioles and young branches velvety-pubescent. 

 PUBESCENT FRAXINUS. Red Ash. 



Stem 40 to 60 feet high. Leaflets 2 to 5 or 6 inches long, acuminate, subserrate; 

 petioles 2 to 3 inches in length. Samaras about 2 inches long, narrowly lanceolate- 

 epatulate, often with an abrupt point, tapering and almost acute at base. 

 Hob. Low grounds; along Brandy wine : frequent. FL May. Fr. 



Ob. A smaller tree, and less valuable than the preceding, 

 ft Calyx obsolete,' leaflets 9 to 11, sessile, serrate. 



3. F. sambucif olia, Lam. Leaflets ovate-lanceolate, some- 

 what rounded and unequal at base, the midrib hirsute beneath. 

 SAMBUCUS- or ELDER-LEAVED FRAXINUS. Black Ash. Water Ash. 



Stem 30 to 50 feet high ; young branches smooth, green, marked with black 

 elliptic dots, or warts. Leaflets 3 to 4 or 5 inches long, acuminate, rugose and 

 shining above, with a villous tuft at base, and in the axils of the nerves beneath ; 

 petioles 2 to 4 inches long, below the leaflets. Samaras about an inch long, 

 elliptic-oblong, broadish, obtuse at both ends. 

 Hob. Low grounds ; along rivulets : not very common. FL April. Fr. 



Obs. This is the least common, the least in size, and the least 

 valuable, of the three species here enumerated. The Syringa vul- 

 aaru, L. or Lilac a well-known and much cultivated ornamental 

 shrub, with cqpsular fruit belongs here. 



