287. FRAXINUS BILTMORIANA BALTIMORE ASH. 35 



287. FRAXINUS BILTMORIANA, BEADLE. 



BlLTMORE ASH. 



Ger., Biit more Esche; Fr., Frene de Biltmore; Sp., Fresno de 



Biltmore. 



SPECIFIC CHABACTEBS: Leaves 10-15 in. long, with 7-9 ovate or ovate-oblong 

 to lanceolate somewhat falcate long-petiolulate leaflets, 3-7 in. long, obtuse or 

 rounded at base, acuminate, with entire or obscurely denticulate margins and at 

 maturity firm dark green above, paler and pubescent especially on the veins 

 beneath; branchlets velvety pubescent. Flowers early in May, in rather compact 

 pubescent panicles. Fruit samaras 114-1% in. long, linear or linear-spatulate 

 with wing 2 or 3 times as long and very slightly decurrent upon the nearly terete 

 narrowly elliptic seed-bearing portion. 



The Biltmore Ash is a tree of medium size, attaining a height of 

 50 to 60 ft. (15 to 18 m.) and a trunk diameter of 12 to 15 in. (0.30) 

 to 0.35 m.). The habit of growth of the tree is much like that 

 of the White Ash, to which it is closely related, and like that tree its 

 bark of trunk is of an ashen gray color and characterized by many 

 prominent narrow and more or less reticulated ridges. 



HABITAT. From southern Pennsylvania southward throughout 

 the Alleghany region to northern Georgia and Alabama, growing in 

 moist but well-drained soil and is particularly common in the vicinity 

 of Biltmore, North Carolina. It was there that it was first separated 

 from the White Ash, by Mr. C. D. Beadle, botanist of the Biltmore 

 Forest estate of Mr. George W. Vanderbilt, located there. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, tough, and 

 of a pinkish brown color with abundant lighter sap-wood, very similar 

 in properties to those of the White Ash. 



USES. The wood of the Biltmore Ash, as such, is not known in 

 commerce, though its properties are so similar to those of the White 

 Ash that it would doubtless be equally applicable to the same uses, 

 viz., in the manufacture of agricultural implements, wheels, axles, 

 frames for carriages and cutters, etc., where strength and stiffness 

 are required. 



NOTE. The wood from which the accompanying sections were 

 made was received from Mr. C. D. Beadle, of Biltmore, N. C. 



ORDER SCOPHULARIACEJE: FIGWORT FAMILY. 



Leaves various, without stipules. Flowers mostly perfect, complete and irregu- 

 lar; calyx inferior, variously cleft or divided, persistent; corolla gamopetalous, 



