Handbook of Tueks of thk Noethekn States and Canada. 3S7 



The Water Ash is 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 streams inun- 

 dated during a considerable portion of the 

 year, and commonly in company with the Bald 

 Cypress, Water and Cotton Gums, Over-cup, 

 Laurel and Water Oaks, Red Maple, Swamp 

 Bay, White Cedar, etc. These being generally 

 taller trees east their shade on the W^ater Ashes 

 which, nevertheless, accept the situation seem- 

 ingly without complaint, and thrive even 

 though deprived of their Que allowance of sun- 

 light. 



The wood of the Water Ash is light, a cubic 



foot, when absolutely drj', weighing 22.07 lbs., 



rather soft, not strong and of little commercial 



importance.- 



Lraurs 7-12 in. long with elongated petioles and 

 .5-7 rather remote long-petiolulate ovate to ovate- 

 lanceolate leaflets, usually cunneate or rounded at 

 base and acute or acuminate at apex, closely 

 serrate or entire, tomentose at first but finally 

 dark green above, paler and glabrous or pube.scent 

 beneath; branchlots thick. Flowers (February 

 and March) dioecious, with calyx nearly obsolete 

 and 2 to 3 stamens : corolla none ; pistillate 

 flowers with cup-sbapod laciniate-lobed persistent 

 calyx. Fruit: samara winged all around, obovate. 

 spatulate or elliptical, nearly 2 in. long. Vj-% In. 

 broad, frequently 3-winged witb persistent calyx 

 at base, compressed body and wing pinnately 

 veined. 



1. Syn. Fraxinus phitijcarpa Michx. 



2. A. W., XII, 286. 



