Handbook of Tkkks of 



NoiMJiKiJX States and Canada. 393 



The Biltniore Ash is a tm- of iiu'diuiii sizo, 

 not ofton surpassing 40 or ,">() ft. in licij,'lit or 

 12 or 15 in. in thickness of Iniiilc, and wlicii 

 not crowded by otlier trees devndops an op.-ii 

 symmetrical ovoid or n)und('d top, of stout 

 spreading branches. Its hark is of a dark- 

 gray color, fissured in ratlier narrow somewhat 

 reticulate ridges, very much resembling that of 

 the White Ash, as it does also in the quality 

 of its wood and other ciuiracters, excejjting the 

 amount of pubescence of its foliage and brandi- 

 lets. It inhabits the ricli well-drained soil of 

 slopes and the banks of streams, or occasionally 

 low-lands, of the foot-hill region of the Alle- 

 ghany Mountains, from Pennsylvania to North- 

 ern Georgia and Alabama. For its discovery 

 we are indebted to Prof. C. D. Beadle, Botanist 

 at the Biltmore forest estate of :\Ir. Geo. W. 

 Vanderbilt, where it is a common tree, and 

 he has appropriately given it the name of the 

 estate. 



Its wood is heavy, hard, strong, tough and 



of a pinkish brown color, with abundant lighter 



sap-wood, and is suitable for the uses to whidi 



the White Ash wood is applied.! 



Lrarrs lO-l.'i In. long, with 7-0 ovate or ovate- 

 oblong to lanceolate somewhat falcate long- 

 petiolulate leaflets, 3-7 in. long, obtuse or 

 rounded at l)ase, acuminate, with entire or cih- 

 scurelv denticulate margins .and at maturity firm 

 dark green aliove. paler and imliesceiii I'speciall.v 

 on the veins beneath : liranclilels velvety pubescent. 

 Floirrrii early in May, in rather compact imbescent 

 panicles. Fruit: samaras li/4-l% in- long, linear 

 or linear-spatulate with wing 2 or .S times as 

 long and very slightly decurrent upon the nearly 

 terete narrowly elliptic seed-bearing portion. 



1. .\. \V.. Xll. L'SV. 



