BROADLEAVED TREES OF YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 



29 



OREGON ASH 

 Fraxinus oregona Nutt — Olive Fomily (Oleoceae) 



This is a rare tree in the Yosemite 

 region and it will probably not b3 

 noted within park boundaries by the 

 average visitor. However, it is occas- 

 ionally found along the western 

 boundary in the vicinity of El Portal, 

 and may be seen along the All Yea'- 

 Highway in that area, growing iv. 

 moist soils along streams. 



It is usually a crooked tree and 

 rarely attains a size greater than 

 twenty-five feet in height and six to 

 ten inches in diameter. The bark is 

 thick and soft, deeply furrowed and 



grayish-brown in color. The leaves 

 are opposite on the branches, six to 

 twelve inches long and compound — 

 with from five to seven leaflets. These 

 leaflets are each from one-half to 

 one and one-half inches wide, oval 

 in outline and often toothed above the 

 middle. 



Male and female flowers are borne 

 on separate trees and appear before 

 the leaves. The fruit, consisting of a 

 small seed with an elongated wing, 

 is borne in clusters and is from one 

 to two inches long. 



Photo by Brockman 



Foliage and seeds of ash (Inch squares on background) 



