Handbook of Tueks of the XokthekxN States and Caxada. 3S7 



The Water Asli i.s a tree of medium stature, 

 rarely larger than 40 ft. in lieiglit and 1 ft. in 

 diameter of trunk, witli usually a narrow 

 rounded top of slender branches. It inhabits 

 deep swamps and the banks of streams inun- 

 dated during a considerable portion of the 

 year, and commonly in company with tiie Bald 

 Cypress, Water and Cotton (lums, Over-cup, 

 Laurel and Water Oaks, Red Maple, Swamp 

 Bay, White Cedar, etc. These being generally 

 taller trees cast their shade on the Water Ashes 

 which, nevertheless, accept the situation seem- 

 ingly without complaint, and thrive even 

 though deprived of their aue allowance of sun- 

 light. 



The wood of the Water Ash is light, a cubic 

 foot, when absolutely dry, weighing 22.07 lbs., 

 rather soft, not strong and of little commercial 

 importance. 2 



Leaves 7-12 in. long with elongated petioles and 

 r)-7 rather remote long-petiolulate ovate to ovate- 

 lanceolate leaflets, usually cunneate or rounded at 

 base and acute or acuminate at apex, closely 

 serrate or entire, tomentose at first but finally 

 dark green above, paler and glabrous or pubescent 

 beneath: branchlets thick. Flowers (February 

 and March) dioecious, with calyx nearly obsolete 

 and 2 to 3 stamens ; corolla none ; pistillate 

 flowers with cup-shaped laciniate-lobed persistent 

 calyx. Fruit: samara winged all around, obovate. 

 spatulate or elliptical, nearly 2 "in. long. V>-% in- 

 broad, frequently .".-winged with persistent calyx 

 at base, compressed body and wing pinnately 

 veined. 



1. Syn. Fruxin 



2. A. W., XII, 



( iiUit!jt<iri)a Michx, 

 i86. 



