Handbook of Trkks of the Xortiikun States and Canada. 397 



The Red Ash is a tree of medium size, rarely 

 attaining a greater heiglit than 40-00 ft. or a 

 greater thickness of trunk than 2 ft. When 

 isolated from other trees it develops a broad- 

 ovoid or somewhat pyramidal top similar tu 

 that of the White Ash, which it also resembles 

 in character of bark. It inhabits low rich 

 bottom-lands and the margins of swamps ami 

 streams, in company with the Hackberry, JOlms, 

 Swamp, Pin and Water Oaks, Bitter-nut 

 Hickory, Red and Silver Maples, Sweet and 

 Sour Gums, etc. It is not generally distin- 

 guished by the common people from the White 

 Ash, which, however, is more a tree of up- 

 land regions and a tree of more vigorous 

 growth and ornamental character. The Red 

 Ash is said to take its name from the reddish 

 color of the inner bark of the branches. 



The wood is rather liglit, a cubic foot when 

 dry weighing .38.96 lbs., hard and strong, and 

 applied to the same uses as is that of the 

 White Ash, though somewhat inferior to it in 

 quality.2 



Leaves 7-12 in. Iodk. with velvety pvihcscont 

 petioles and raehises, and 7-9 olilonK-lMnccdlato or 

 ovate petiolulate leaflets, uneiiually ciiiicarc at 

 base, usually acuminate at apex. <il)seun'ly scrrati' 

 or entire below, tomentose at first, at maturity 

 lust rolls ycliiiw-m-i'cu aliove paler and tom(>ntose 

 bi'iieath : liramlilcis \rl\cty but sometimes beeom- 

 in'4 iclabrous liy ilic close of the first season. 

 Floir( m dioecious, petals wanting ; stamens sub- 

 tended by the persistent calyx. Fruit: samara, 

 1-2 in. long, with slender terete tapering body, 

 margined above by the thin deourrent linear or 

 spatulate wing which about equals it in length. 



1. Syii. Fnuiiuis jtiilx 

 •2. A. W., IT, 81, 



'•IIS Lam. 





