IlAjNfDBOOK OF TPiEKS OF THE jSToimiEKX StATES AND CajSTADA. 397 



The Red Asli is a tree of medium size, rarely 

 attaining a greater lieiglit than 40-(ilt ft. or a 

 greater thickness of trunk than 2 ft. When 

 isohited from other trees it develops a broad- 

 ovoid or somewhat pyramidal top similar to 

 that of the White Ash, which it also resembles 

 in character of bark. It inhabits low rich 

 bottom-lands and the margins of swamps and 

 streams, in company Avith the Hackberry, Elms, 

 Swamp, Pin and Water Oaks, Bitter-niit 

 Hickory, Red and Silver Maples, Sweet and 

 Sour Gums, etc It is not generally distin- 

 guished by the common people from the White 

 Asli, which, however, is more a tree of up- 

 land regions and a tree of more vigorous 

 growth and ornamental cliaracter. The Red 

 Ash is said to take its name from the reddish 

 color of the inner bark of the branches. 



The wood is rather light, a cubic foot wlien 



dry weighing .S8.06 lbs., hard and strong, and 



applied to the same uses as is that of the 



White Ash, though somewhat inferior to it in 



quality. - 



Leaves 7-12 in. lon.i::. with velvety pubescent 

 petioles and racliises. and 7-0 oblong-ianceolatc or 

 ovate petiolulate leaflets, unequally cuneate at 

 haso, usually acuminate at apex, obscurely sen-ate 

 or entire below, tomeutose at first, at maturity 

 lustrous yollow-,£ireen above paler and tomentose 

 bi'noath ; branctilets velvety but sometimes becom- 

 ini; .i^labrous by the close of the first season. 

 Finiirrs dioecious, petals wanting: stamens sub- 

 tended b.y the persistent cal.yx. Fruit: samara, 

 1-- in. long, with slender terete tapering body, 

 margined alKive by the thin decurront linear or 

 spatulate wing which about oquals it in length 



1. Syn. Firi.ri 

 ■2. A. W.. II, 



.■;i. 



Earn. 



