8o4 



The Ashes 



12. MICHAUX'S ASH— FraxmnsMichaiudi Britton 



Michaux's ash is known to inhabit very wet ground from southern New York 

 to North Carolina, and probably has a much wider range, but it has been so much 



confused with other species as to require much 

 further investigation necessary to accurately 

 determine its geographic distribution. It at- 

 tains a height of at least 13 meters, and a 

 trunk diameter of 3 dm. or more. 



The bark, like that of related species, is 

 rough and fissured, and the yoimg twigs are 

 either velvety or smooth. There are 5, 7 or 

 9 relatively long-stalked leaflets, which are ob- 

 long-lanceolate, entire-margined, thick, 13 cm. 

 long or less, 2.5 to 6 cm. wide, dark green 

 above, pale green and more or less hairy be- 

 neath, at least along the veins. Like the Red 

 ash its flowers are dioecious. The samaras are 

 broadly spatulate,3.5 to 5 cm. long, 8 to 10 mm. 

 wide, the thick blunt or notched wing as long 

 as or longer than the nearly round body and decurrent on its sides to or above 

 the middle. 



Specimens which were taken as the type of this species were obtained from a 

 wild tree in the north meadows of the New York Botanical Garden, July 2, 1903. 

 The species was illustrated by Michaux as Fraxinus tomentosa Marshall, but his 

 accompanying description appHes to Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall, and he 

 cites Fraxinus > pubescens Lamarck (which is the same as F. pennsylvanica 

 Marshall) as a synonym. 



Fig. 733. — Michaux's Ash. 



13. RED ASH — Fraxmns pennsylvanica Marshall 

 Fraxinus lanceolata Borkhausen 



A treS of eastern North America, ranging from Vermont to northern New 

 York and Minnesota, probably extending into Ontario, and southward to Florida, 

 Mississippi, Kansas, and Texas, preferring rich soil in valleys. It attains a maxi- 

 mum height of about 20 meters and a trunk diameter of about 2 meters, old 

 individuals shading a circle whose diameter is about equal to the height of the 

 tree; it is also called Green Ash. 



The bark is ridged, up to 2 cm. thick and brown, the young shoots round, 

 gray, and hairy, velvety or smooth. The 5, 7 or 9 leaflets are all stalked, bright 

 green on both sides, but somewhat lighter in color beneath than above, entire- 

 margined or somewhat toothed, usually oblong-lanceolate and pointed, smooth on 

 both sides or hairy at least along the veins beneath. The staminate and pistil- 



