1908 ILLUSTRATKD HANDB< >OK ( >K AMERIC \\ TREES 41 



The Black Ash is distinctly ;i northern 

 species, and in fure-t-. under mo-t favorable 

 condition-. attain- the height of 80-'JO ft., with 

 straight columnar trunk 3-4 ft. in diameter. 

 When isolated it develops a rounded ovoid tup, 

 \\hich may be recognized when Icalle-s by its 

 stout straight branchlets (those of the stami- 

 nate tree being larg.-r than of the pistillate i 

 and the gray si-aly bark of trunk. 



It inhabits the low hank- of stn-ims and cold 

 swamps, in company with the Arbor-Vita'. 

 Balsam, Tamarack. Silver .Maple, Black Spruce, 

 tc., sometimes forming a considerable portion 

 01 forest tracts. 



Its wood is rather heavy, a cubic foot when 

 dry weig'aing 38.37 His., moderately hard and 

 strong, ar.d is valued in the manufacture of 

 fr.rrit :re and lumber for interior finishing, for 

 barrel hoops, etc. It is extensively used in the 

 manufacture of splints for baskets, owing to 

 the facility with which it splits between the 

 layers of annual growth. The " Ash Burl " 

 veneering is a product of this tree, being sliced 

 from the " knots " or burls which form on its 

 trunk and larger branches. Their cause or 

 origin is not well understood. - 



10-ir, in. Innir. with 7-11 oblong to 

 oblong-lanceolate sessile leaflets. tin- terminal one 

 petiolulat". rounded or ruMeate and mn'i|iial at 

 base, long-acuminate at a]n-\. sharply serrate. to- 

 montosc at first hut at maturity glabrous dark 

 }_"' Ti above. sonK'wlrit jin'i'r and <rlalproii< with 

 rufous hairs alon^ the midrib heneath. Flun-i r.<; 

 ixdyiramo-dioecioiis. ralyx none; petals none; 

 stanvns - ^ometimos rudimentary in the pistillate 

 flowers. Fruit samara, linear-oliloni:. 1-1 '.i in. 

 lone. 1 r > . in. bread, \vintred all around and with 

 i':ittened faintly \-eiiMMl body and thin wing 

 emarginate at apex. 3 



1. Syu. Fi-ajriints sambucifolia Lam. 



2. A. W.. III. Gl.'. 



3. For genus see pp. 4o4-455. 



One page from the Handbook of American Trees The tree represented here is 



Black Ash 



