28 FRAXINUS. [class II. ORDER 1. 



frequently, at the base anil angles of the veins on the under side, 

 thickly clothed with short pubescence. Flowers in axillary clusters, 

 appearing- before the leaves, at the extremity of the last year's wood, 

 very simple, without either calyx or corolla, sometimes produced with 

 pistil only, while others on the srrtfie tree bear both pistil and stamens : 

 hence we find that in autumn some trees bear abundance of seed, 

 while others are barren. Filaments opposite, inserted between the 

 petals. Anthers with four furrows. Sti/le short. Stigma divided. 

 Capsule frequently cleft at the extremity. — /3. That this is only a va- 

 riety is probable from its capability of being propagated alone by 

 gi'afting; at least, we know of no instance where it has reproduced 

 itself by seed. 



Habitat. — Woods and hedges, common ; /5. rare. 



Perennial; flowering in April and May. 



The graceful form and elegant appearance of the Ash are wellknown ; 

 the tree is justly termed by Virgil " Pulcherrima sylvis" It varies ex- 

 ceedingly in its form : sometimes the lower branches are long and 

 pendent, while the upper are spreading or erect ; at others the extre- 

 mities of the lower branches are curved upwards. The weeping Ash, 

 which gives such a grotesque but highly ornamental appearance to the 

 j)leasure-gi'ound and the lawn, is said to have been first discovered in 

 a field at Gamlingay : it can only be propagated by grafting. The 

 Ash is not less useful than beautiful : its white wood is a very valuable 

 timber, tough, light, and straight-grained, which renders it particularly 

 useful to wheelwrights, and for implements of husbandry. The bark, 

 when fresh, has a bitter taste, slightly diuretic and tonic. The leaves, 

 which have a similar flavour, have been employed to adulterate China 

 tea ; they are said to be cathartic, but very much inferior to those of 

 senna. It was thought by the ancients, that a snake would not endure 

 the shade of an Ash ; and we are informed by Pliny that the Ash is ob- 

 noxious to .serpents, and its branches are often hung about children's 

 beds to keep ofi"the gnats. In warm climates, a sort of manna exudes 

 from this species, to which the leaves probably owe their aperient qua- 

 lity. The manna of the shops — which is a peculiar saccharine sub- 

 stance, useful as a laxative for infants — is procured from several spe- 

 cies of Or«M.?, as O. EnropcBus, rotundifoUa, florihunda, &c., natives 

 of the southern parts of Europe. It exudes spontaneously from the 

 stems and branches in warm weather, and is collected and sold by the 

 name of " manna in the tear." It is procured in greater abundance, 

 however, by making incisions in the bark, from which it exudes in the 

 form of a thick juice, which concretes in flaky masses: but is procured 

 freer from impurities^ and of a finer quality, by making the juice con- 

 crete on straws or chips, fastened near the incisions for that purpose. 

 The saccharine matter of manna difi"ers from common sugar by its not 

 fermenting with water and yeast, for which reason it is considered a 

 distinct principle, and called " mannite." The smooth bark of the Ash 



