THE ASH 69 



each, node whence spring the prominent bases that 

 support the heavy leaves, and that are afterwards 

 marked by the large scars. 



The short oval, black buds in the leaf-axils which 

 distinguish our Ash from its American congener 

 {F. america'na Willd.), in which they are a greenish 

 white, attracted the attention of Tennyson, as, in 

 " The Gardener's Daughter," he describes Juliet's 

 hair as 



" More black than ash-buds in the front of March." 



He also notes how 



" The tender Ash delays , 

 To clothe herself when all the woods are green." 



Often, in fact, this species is not in full leaf until 

 June, though in exceptional seasons, such as 1840 and 

 1848, leaves may appear in the first week in May. 

 Before the gracefully-cut foliage has, however, begun 

 to burst from the black bud-scales, rich vinous clusters 

 appear in the axils of the branches. These are 

 the panicles of simple flowers, consisting mostly of 

 purple-black anthers, but also bearing simple flask- 

 shaped ovaries, surmounted by a two-forked stigma. 

 F. Ornus L., the so-called "Flowering Ash," or 

 " Manna Ash " has a corolla of four white petals, differ- 

 ing from those of the allied genera, the Privets and 

 the Lilacs, in being but very slightly united at the 

 base. In the Common Ash, however, in which there 

 is neither corolla nor calyx, the flowers are what is 

 technically known as "polygamous," i.e. some 

 branches of the inflorescence bear stamens only, others 

 only ovaries, and others again bear both. Some Ash 



