OLEACEAE 
Black Ash 
Fraxinus nigra Marsh. [Fraxinus sambucifolia Lam.] 
HABIT.—A tall tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter 
of 1-2 feet; slender, upright branches form in the forest a nar- 
row crown, in the open a rounded, ovoid crown. 
LEAVES.—Opposite, pinnately compound, 12-16 inches long. 
Leaflets 7-11, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; sessile, except 
the terminal; oblong to oblong-lanceolate, long-pointed; remotely, 
but sharply serrate; thin and firm; dark green above, paler be- 
neath, glabrous. Petioles stout, grooved, glabrous. 
FLOWERS.—May, before the leaves; polygamo-dioecious; 
borne in loose panicles on shoots of the preceeding season; calyx 
0; corolla 0; stamens 2; ovary 2-celled. 
FRUIT.—August-September, falling early, or sometimes 
hanging on the tree until the following spring; samaras 1-14 
inches long, in open, paniculate clusters 8-10 inches long. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Ovoid, pointed; bud-scales rounded on 
the back, 3 pairs, almost black. 
BARK.—Twigs at first dark green, becoming ashy gray or 
orange. finally dark gray and warted; thin, soft ash-gray and 
scaly on the trunk. Bark flakes off on rubbing with the hand. 
WOOD.—Heavy, tough, coarse-grained, weak, rather soft, 
dark brown, with thin, lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Common throughout most portions of 
Michigan. 
HABITAT.—Prefers deep, cold swamps and low river-banks, 
but grows in any good soil. 
NOTES.—Hardy throughout. the state. Not easily trans- 
planted. Foliage falls early in autumn. 
— 221 — 
