BLACK ASH 



Schwartz (106), p. 483. De Momay (70), p. 52. Mathieu (69), 

 p. 241. Wiesner (131), L. 12, p. 992. 



Colour. Heart- wood whitish-brown, pinkish or Oak-coloured. 

 " Only present in trees over 40 years old " (131). Sap-wood 

 very broad and white. 



Anatomical Characters. Transverse section : — 



Pores. Just visible with the unaided eye, size 2, variable, 

 diminishing in size rather gradually from the inner to the outer 

 side of the ring. Large pores of the pore-ring of 2-3 scanty rows 

 deep, 8-12 per sq. mm. The smaller scattered uniformly, singly 

 or in subdivided groups of 2-4 pores, branched or concentric, 

 sometimes united in festoons or short lines on the outer side of 

 the ring : elongated-oval. 



Rays. Just visible, size 5, fine, uniform : equidistant : 

 straight, avoiding the larger pores : scarcely denser than the 

 ground-tissue and lighter in colour : many 7-12 per mm. : taper- 

 ing at length, but very uniform in breadth : white. 



Rings. Prominent : boundary, a line of contrast between 

 the Spring and Autumn wood, accompanied by the conspicuous 

 pore-ring. 



Soft-tissue. Surrounding the outer pores and pore-groups and 

 sometimes connecting them in well-grown rings. 



Pith. About 5 - o mm. wide : five or six-sided or lobed. 



Radial Section. Very prominent brownish lines, shining when 

 empty. Rays scarcely visible with lens, except when moistened : 

 faint, minute flakes. Rings prominent on account of the coarse 

 bands of open pores. 



Tangential Section. As the Radial, but the pores appear finer 

 and form fringes to the loops which often extend far into the 

 denser wood. Rays, scarcely perceptible with lens, minute, 

 almost colourless lines from o - i-o - 5 mm. high. 



Type specimens from trees known before felling. 



No. 141. BLACK ASH. Fraxinus sambucifolia. 



Linn. 



Plate X. Fig. 88. 



Natural Order. Oleaceae. 



Synonym. F. nigra. Marsh. 



Alternative Names. Nova Scotia Ash. Ground Ash (100). 

 Korbesche (113). Swamp Ash (66). Hoop Ash (49). 



Sources of Supply. North America, Canada, Nova Scotia, 

 United States of America. 



Physical Characters, etc. Recorded dry-weight 38-44J lbs. per 

 cu. ft. Hardness Grade 6, compare Beech, Chestnut. Smell 



161 M 



