Handbook of Tkkks cy Tin-; _X(U!Tiii i;.\ R'I'atks axd (\vxai)a. 305 



This luindsonip tree rarely attains a greater 

 size than 60-70 ft. in heiglit, and 2-3 ft. in 

 diameter of trunk. When isolated it develops 

 a broad rounded top, of slender spreading 

 branches. 



It inhabits the banks of streams, lake-shores 

 and bottom-lands over the greater p;irt of the 

 United States east of the Rocky Mountains and, 

 in the western part of its range, it so closely 

 approximates the Red Ash in characters that 

 it is considered by some botanists to be a 

 variety of that species, though it is very dis- 

 tinct from it in regions east of the Mississippi 

 River. Comparatively uncommon east of the 

 Alleghany Mountains it is very common in the 

 Mississippi Valley. Being a very hardy tree, 

 of rapid growth and desirable habit, it is ex- 

 tensively planted as an ornamental shade tree 

 in many of the cities and towns of the central 

 states. 



The wood is heavy, a cubic foot when abso- 

 lutely dry weighing 44.35 lbs., hard and 

 strong, and adapted to the same uses as that 

 of the White Ash, no distinction being made 

 between them in commerce.- 



Leavcs S-12 in. long with petiole and raetiis 

 jrlahvous or nearly so and ."i-0 oblons-lanceolati' to 

 ovate petiolulate leaflets, cuneate at base, acumi- 

 nate at apex, nsuall.v sharply serrate at ma- 

 turitv. glabrous or nearly so, bright green both 

 sides" or slightly lighter beneath : branchlets gray, 

 terete, glabrous with pale lenticels. Floirers 

 dioeciou.'i, without petals. Fruit samara, 1-2 m. 

 long, with terete body tapering from the base, 

 tipped with a spatulate or lanceolate wing de- 

 current about half way down the body. 



1. Syn. Fraxlnus virUlis Michx. f. Fraxiiius 

 Feinisi/lfaftica var. lanccohtfa Sarg. 



2. A. W., XI, 262. 



