11 



i)K OF Treks of the Xortiierx States and Canada. 397 



Tlip Red Ash is a lice of iiicdimii sizf. litrt'ly 

 ;»tt:iiniiig a j-icatcr lici.ylit tliaii 4(l-(i(» ft. or a 

 greater thickness of trunk tlian 2 ft. Wlien 

 isolated from other trees it deveh)i)s a broad- 

 ovoid or somewluit pyramidal top siinihir ti) 

 that of the White Ash, whieli it also resembles 

 in eliaracter of bark. It inhabits low rich 

 bottom-lands and the margins of swamps and 

 streams, in company with the Hackberry, Elms, 

 Swamp, Pin and Water Oaks, Bitter-nut 

 Hickory, Red and Silver Maples, Sweet and 

 Sour Gums, etc. It is not generally distin- 

 guished by tlie 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 light, a cubic foot when 



<lry weighing .38.96 lbs., hard and strong, and 



applied to the same uses as is tluit of the 



White Ash, though somewhat inferior to it in 



<]uality.- 



Lcaves 7-12 in. lonjj, with vclvi'ty puhcscont 

 jK'tioles and rachises, and 7-!» oblong-lancoolato or 

 ovate petiolulate leaflets, imoqually cunoatc at 

 l)ase, usually acuminate at apex, obscurely sciiati' 

 or entire below, tomentose at first, at 'maturity 

 lustrous yollow-n;roon alwve paler and tomontosi' 

 henivath ; bi'anclilots velvety but sotnet inics bccom- 

 ini; jclalirous by th(> close of- flie first season. 

 Floircr.s dioecious, petals wantinj; ; stamens sul>- 

 tended by the persistent calyx. Fnilt: samai'a. 

 1-2 in. long, with -slender teret(» tapering l)ody. 

 margined al)ove by the thin decurrent linear or 

 spatulate wing which about eciuals it in length. 



1. Syn. Fraxinus piibr 



2. A. W., II. 31. 



Eam. 



