RUTACE.E RUE FAMILY 



PRICKLY ASH 



Xanthdxylum americanum . 



Derived from two Greek words, xanthos, yellow, and xylon, 

 wood. 



Low branching, sometimes becoming a small tree, usually 

 four to twelve feet high ; growing in rocky woods and on 

 river banks. Ranges from Quebec to Virginia especially along 

 the mountains, west to Minnesota, Ne- 

 braska, and Missouri. Bark, leaves, 

 and fruit pungent and aromatic ; stems 

 and often leaf -stalks prickly; wood 

 pale, yellowish brown. 



Bark. Branchlets pale brown, 

 downy ; later smooth, light gray ; 

 finally dark gray. 



Winter buds. Round, reddish 

 brown, with two, short, sharp prickles 

 just beneath. 



Leaves. Alternate, pinnately com- 

 pound, dotted with oil glands ; leaflets 

 five to eleven, nearly sessile, one and 

 one-fourth to two inches long, ovate 

 or ovate - oblong, wedge - shaped or 

 rounded at base, entire or crenulate, 

 acute at apex ; when full grown are 

 dark green above, pale green and 



43 



Leaf of Prickly Ash. Leaflets 

 i' to 2' long. 



