OLEACEAE 
White Ash 
Fraxinus americana L. 
HABIT.—A large tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diam- 
eter of 2-3 feet; forming an open, pyramidal crown of long, 
slender, lateral branches and a stout, rather sparse spray. 
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long. 
Leaflets usually 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; short- 
stalked; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; entire or obscurely serrate; 
thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath. 
Petioles glabrous, stout, grooved. 
FLOWERS.—May, before the leaves; dioecious; borne in 
loose panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx campanu- 
late, 4-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled. 
FRUIT.—August-September, persistent on the branches 
until midwinter or the following spring; samaras 1-2 inches 
long, in crowded, drooping, paniculate clusters 6-8 inches long. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Short, rather obtuse; bud-scales apicu- 
late, keeled, 4 pairs, rusty-brown. 
BARK.—Twigs at first dark green, becoming gray or light 
brown, often covered with a glaucous bloom; gray, deeply fur- 
rowed into firm, narrow, flattened ridges on the trunk. 
WOOD.Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough, brown, 
with thick, lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION —Of common occurrence throughout the 
state. 
HABITAT.—Prefers a rich, moist, loamy soil, but grows in 
any well-drained situation; common along stream-beds. 
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. Easily transplanted. Fairly free 
from disease. Leaves appear late in spring. 
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