Handbook of Tkees of thk Nortiieen States and Canada. 3S7 



The Water Ash 13 a tree of medium stature, 

 rarely larger than 40 ft. in height and 1 ft. in 

 diameter of trunk, with usually a narrow 

 rounded top of slender branches. It inhabits 

 deep swamps and the banks of slre.uns inun- 

 dated during a considerable portion of the 

 ycur, and commonly in company with the Bald 

 Cypress, Water and Cotton Gums, Over-cup, 

 Laurel and Water C)aks, Ked .Maple, Swamp 

 Bay, White Cedar, etc. These being generally 

 taller trees cast their shade on the Water Ashes 

 which, nevertheless, accept the situation seem- 

 ingly without complaint, and thrive even 

 though deprived of their aue allowance of sun- 

 light. 



The wood of the Water Ash is li.i^lit, a cubio 

 foot, when absolutely dry, \vei,i:^lnTig 22.07 11)-^., 

 rather soft, not strong and of little commercial 

 importance. - 



Lcavcfi 7-12 in. Ion,? with plong:atecl pntiolos and 

 n-T rather remote long-petiolulato ovalr to ovate- 

 lanceolate loatlots, usually cunneatc or ronndrd at 

 basp and aciilr or acuminate al ;i|k'x. dnsciy 

 sprrato or ontire. tomentose at lirst iml rmally 

 dark jrreen above, palor and ^Haltrous or iiiiln'scciil 

 brneath ; hranchlcts thick. Flotn-r.s { Fchniary 

 and March ) dioecious, with calyx nearly olisoh'h- 

 and 1^ to ■'! stamens: corolla none; pislillali- 

 flowers with cup-shapod laciniatc-loln-d persislmi 

 calyx. Fruit: samara wing-ed all nruinid. <il)ovale. 

 spatiilate or elliptical, nearly 2 in. loiiu', '^-'''1 in. 

 broad, frequently .".-win.ffed with [ti^rsi^icni calyx 

 at base, compressed body and win;," p innately 

 veined. 



1. Syn. Fni.riii IIS iiUihir<ir}>a INlichx, 



2. A. W., XII, 286. 



