OLEACEAE 



White Ash 



Fraxmus americana, L. 



HABIT. A large tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diam- 

 eter of 2-3 feet; forming an open, pyramidal crown of long, 

 slender, lateral branches and a stout, rather sparse spray. 



LEAVES. Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long. 

 Leaflets usually 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches -broad; s'hort- 

 stalked; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; entire or obscurely serrate; 

 thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath. 

 Petioles glabrous, stout, grooved. 



FLOWERS. May, before the leaves; dioecious; borne in 

 loose panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx campanu- 

 late, 4-lobed; corolla o; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled. 



FRUIT. August-September, persistent on the branches 

 until midwinter or the following spring; samaras 1-2 inches 

 long, in crowded, drooping, paniculate clusters 6-8 inches long. 



WINTER-BUDS. Short, rather obtuse; bud-scales apicu- 

 late, keeled, 4 pairs, rusty-brown. 



BARK. Twigs at first dark green, becoming gray or light 

 brown, often covered with a glaucous bloom ; gray, deeply fur- 

 rowed into firm, narrow, flattened ridges on the trunk. 



WOOD. 'Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough, brown, 

 with thick, lighter colored sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Of common occurrence throughout the 

 state. 



HABITAT. Prefers a rich, moist, loamy soil, but grows in 

 any well-drained situation ; common along stream-beds. 



NOTES. Grows rapidly. Easily transplanted, Fairly free 

 from disease. Leaves appear late in spring. 

 213 



