Fraxinus 889 



great variation, but that no special form can be singled out as deserving the name 

 rotundifolia ; and I have seen no specimens of F. Ornus, which could be separated as 

 a var. rotundifolia, much less any which could be separated as a distinct species. 1 



A variegated form of F Ornus, of which I have seen no specimens, is said to 

 occur in cultivation. A simple -leaved form, var. diversifolia, Roch., is of rare 

 occurrence in the wild state, and has been noticed in the canton of Tessin in 

 Switzerland. 2 



Distribution 



The manna ash is widely distributed in southern Europe and Asia Minor. In 

 France it only occurs wild in the department of the Maritime Alps ; and in Switzer- 

 land it is met with in a few places in mountain woods about Lake Lugano in the 

 canton of Tessin. 2 It grows in the southern Tyrol, where it ascends to 2000 feet 

 elevation, in Carniola, Istria, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, and Banat, reaching 

 its northern limit in Hungary on the south side of the Carpathian chain. It is 

 common in eastern Spain, Corsica, Sardinia, Italy, Servia, Bosnia, Greece, and 

 Asia Minor. 



The wood of the flowering ash is excellent, and the foliage is used as fodder in 

 the southern countries of Europe ; but its chief economic importance is due to its 

 being the source of manna. The manna of commerce, according to Hanbury, 

 is exclusively collected in Sicily, where the plantations are known as Frassinetti. 

 However, of late years, attempts have been made to cultivate it on a large scale for 

 manna in the southern parts of the Austrian empire. In Sicily trees begin to produce 

 manna when they are about eight years old ; and they are tapped in subsequent 

 years annually until they are about twenty years old, when they are cut down and 

 their place taken by coppice shoots from the stools. During July and August 

 transverse incisions are made in the bark, so as just to reach the wood ; and the 

 manna exudes as a clear liquid, which solidifies on the stem of the tree or on 

 pieces of straw or wood that are inserted in the incisions. Manna consists mainly 

 of a peculiar sugar called mannite, which is a mild laxative and is employed as an 

 officinal drug in many countries. (A. H.) 



Remarkable Trees 



The manna ash is said to have been introduced into England by Dr. Uvedale 

 of Enfield about 17 10. It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental tree, on account 

 of its beautiful appearance when in flower ; and it thrives and attains a large size, 

 especially in the southern parts of England. The largest I have measured is an old 



1 Tenore, in Syll. PI. Fl. Neap. 10 (1831) considers Lamarck's plant to be a variety of F. Ornus. Both Tenore and 

 Bertolini, Fl. Italica, i. 54 (1833), were of opinion that F. rotundifolia, Willdenow, was a distinct species. Lingelsheim, in 

 Engler, Bot. Jahrb. xl. 212, 213 (1907), retains /'. rotundifolia, Tenore, loc. cit., as a distinct species, confined to a small 

 area in south Tyrol, Bosnia, and Dalmatia ; and creates a new species, F. cilicica, occurring in Cilicia in Asia Minor. These 

 supposed species appear to be glabrous forms of F. Ornus. 



2 Cf. Bettelini, Flora Legnosa del Sottoceneri, 145 (1904). 



IV 2 A 



