ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING, AND CARE 



39 



lateral branches. The mature seed-bearing cones, V3-V2 inch 

 long and oblong, open in autumn of the first year. The mature 

 bark is red tinted and is broken into narrow ridges by shallow- 

 fissures. The brown tinted, yellow wood is aromatic. Although 

 it is light in weight, soft, and brittle, its grain is straight and 

 coarse and it is durable. It is used for railroad ties, poles, posts, 

 shingles, and canoes. 



Ash 



In ornamental plantings, ash (Fig. 41) is used in parks, 

 parkways, and occasionally along streets. It may also be used 

 as a specimen tree. White (Fraxinus am eric an a) , black (F. 

 nigra) , red (F. peunsylrauica) and blue {F. quadrangidata) ash 

 are native to Illinois. The introduced European ash (F. excel- 

 sior) has ornamental value. Black ash grows best in low, wet 

 areas. Blue ash thrives on dry hills and grows as a tall tree with 

 a narrow crown. It is well adapted for lawn and street plant- 

 ings. Of these five species, white ash and green ash (F. peymsyl- 

 vanica var. suhintegerrima) , a variety of red ash, are grown 

 throughout the state. These two tall, rapid-growing species are 



Fig. 41. — Ash is a 

 rapid-growing tree 

 with broad, spread- 

 ing branches. The 

 foliage turns yellow 

 to deep purple in au- 

 tumn. The compound 

 leaves (inset) are 

 composed of 5-11 

 leaflets. 



