ASH. 301 



Fraxinus lanceolata. (F. viridis.} Green Ash. 



The Green Ash closely resembles the Red Ash, from which 

 it is distinguished in extreme forms by its glabrous leaves and 

 branchlets and by its rather narrower and shorter and usually 

 more serrate leaves, which are lustrous and bright green on both 

 surfaces. However, in western Minnesota and the Dakotas 

 these two species run together, and are often indistinguishable. 

 The flowers and fruit of the two species are alike, although 

 many forms occur on each. Professor Sargent regards the 

 Green Ash as a variety of the Red Ash. 



"The bark on the preceding year's growth of the Green Ash 

 is noticeably lighter colored than that of the White Ash, and 

 shows many more rather lighter spots or warts. The leaflets 

 are usually strongly serrate. The leaves are bright dark green 

 in color, although somewhat lighter below. The young growth 

 of new wood is usually smooth and glabrous, while the mid 

 veins of the leaves frequently show some pubescence on the 

 lower side." (L. R. Moyer.) 



Distribution. From the shores of Lake Champlain west to 

 the valley of the Saskatchewan and eastern range of the Rocky 

 Mountains and south to Florida, Texas and Arizona. In Min- 

 nesota one of the most common trees along water courses in 

 the western part of the state. It is probable that about all the 

 Ash in western Minnesota and the Dakotas is Green Ash, or 

 a hopeless mixture of it with Red Ash. 



Propagation. The Green Ash grows readily from seeds, as 

 described under genus. 



Properties of -wood. Hard, strong, brittle and rather coarse 

 grained; it is brown, with thicker, lighter colored sapwood. 

 Specific gravity is 0.7117; weight of a cubic foot 44.35 pounds. 



Uses. The Green Ash is one of the hardiest trees known, 

 and is very valuable for windbreaks and ornamental plantings 

 on the prairies of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and through- 

 out this section should often take the place of the Cottonwood. 

 Its great hardiness against cold and drouth, its easy propaga- 

 tion from seed and its rapid growth make it especially fitted for 

 general planting. The wood is used for the same purposes as 

 White Ash, but is of inferior quality. 



