398 
FRAXINUS AMERICANA. 
This 
8. F. a. juglandifolia. Walnut-leaved American Ash; Fraxinus viridis, of 
Michaux; Fraxinus juglandifolia, of Don. Loudon, and others; Frene d feidlles 
de noyer, Frene vert, of the French; Green Ash, of the Anglo-Americans, 
tree, in its natural habitat, usually attains a 
height of twenty-five or thirty feet, with a trunk 
four or five inches in diameter; but in a state 
of cultivation, it has exceeded more than double 
of these dimensions. It is easily recognized by 
the brilliant green colour of its young leaves ; 
and by its leaves being nearly of the same col- 
our on both surfaces. From this uniformity, 
which is rarely observed in the foliage of trees, 
Dr. Muhlenberg applied the specific name, con- 
color ; and Michaux gave this tree the popular 
name of the "Green Ash." The branches are 
glabrous, and, like the buds, are of a grayish - 
brown. The leaves vary in length from six to 
fifteen inches, with from two to four pairs of 
leaflets, and an odd one, according to the vig- 
our of the tree, and to the coolness of the soil in 
which it grows. The leaflets, which are about 
three inches long, are membranous, glabrous, but not shining, sometimes canes- 
cent or glaucous beneath, downy in the axils of the veins, stalked, elliptic-lanceo- 
late, distinctly denticulated, with glabrous petioles. The flowers, which put 
forth in May, occur in pendulous corymbs, and are succeeded by linear samaras, 
similar in form to those of the white ash, but only about one half as large. This 
variety is a native of wet, shady woods, from Canada to Carolina;- but is more 
common in the western parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, than in 
any other sections of the United States. It is also found in abundance on the 
banks of the Monongahela and of the Ohio. Its wood is distinguished by similar 
properties as that of the other trees of the genus, and is applied, in the regions 
where it abounds, to similar purposes; but as the white ash and the brown- 
hearted variety are more common where it grows, which are much superior in 
size, the green ash is only incidentally employed. It was introduced into Britain 
in 1724, where it is only considered as an ornamental tree. The finest specimen, 
probably existing in the known world, is on Pope's Villa, at Twickenham, in 
England, which has attained a height of nearly seventy feet, with a trunk three 
feet in diameter, and an ambitus or spread of branches as great as its height. 
This splendid tree, which retains its foliage until Christmas, flowers, but never 
matures its seeds. This variety was introduced into France in 1775, and is cul- 
tivated for ornament in many of the European gardens and collections. 
9. F. a. juglandifolia subserrata. Willdenow. Slightly-toothed Walnut' 
leaved American Ash. 
10. F. a. caroliniana. Carolina Ash; Fraxinus platycarpa, of Michaux; 
Fraxinus caroliniana, of Don, Loudon, and others ; Frene de la Caroline, of the 
French. This is a very remarkable variety, readily distinguished by the large 
size of its leaflets, which are nearly round, but acuminated, petiolate, serrated, 
glabrous and shining above, and seldom consists of more than two pairs of leaf- 
lets, with an odd one. In spring, the lower surface of the leaves, and the young 
shoots, are covered with down, which disappears as the summer advances. The 
stature of this tree seldom exceeds thirty feet ; and it often flowers and fruits at 
half of this height. The branches are glabrous, and, like the buds, are of a 
brownish hue. The flowers, which put forth in May, as in the other varieties, 
are small, and not very conspicuous. They are succeeded by samarse which are 
