TREES AND SHRUBS FURNISHING MEDICINAL BARKS. 



45 



1 to 2 inches long, narrow, flat, and one seeded. The wood of white ash is 

 brown, hard, and strong. 



Description of bark. — The bark of white ash, as found in the stores, is 

 whitish or inclined to yellowish brown, about one-fourth of an inch thick or 

 less, the outside corky layer generally having been removed, but pieces of it 

 often adhering. The inner surface is smooth and yellow. The fracture is very 

 fibrous. White-ash bark has a faint aromatic odor and a bitter, acrid taste. 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The bark of the root is preferred, although 

 that from the trunk is also collected; the outer layer is usually removed. The 

 amount at present paid for white-ash bark ranges from 3 to 5 cents a pound. 



White-ash bark has been employed as an antiperiodic in intermittent fever, 

 and is said to possess tonic and astringent properties. The leaves in infusion 

 have been used in the treatment of gout and rheumatism. 



Another species. — The black ash (Fra.rinus nigra Marsh, syn., Fraxinus sam- 

 bucifolia Lam.) is also a native, inhabiting swamps and wet woods from Canada 

 to Virginia and Arkansas. Other names applied to it are hoop-ash, swamp-ash, 

 water-ash, and basket-ash. Its maximum height is 100 feet, and its bark is 

 darker gray and less fissured than that of the white ash, and its leaves are 

 darker green. The leaves are about 10 inches in length, the 7 to II stemless 

 leaflets perhaps a trifle paler green en the lower surface than above, and with 

 rust-colored hairs on the midrib and veins of the lower surface. These leaflets 

 are 3 to G inches long, narrow, oblong lance shaped, with long-pointed apex, 

 the margins sharply toothed. The flowers appear from about April to May, 

 and are followed by clusters of 

 winged seeds, each flat, winged, 

 linear-oblong fruit measuring from 1 

 to 1A inches in length, narrow, with 

 the winged portion extending all 

 around the seed. 



The bark, and also the leaves, are 

 employed in medicine for similar pur- 

 poses as those of the white ash. The 

 bark brings about 3 to 5 cents a 

 pound. 



FRIXGE-TREE. 



Ch ion an t h u s r i i g in ica L. 



Other common names. — American 

 fringe-tree, white fringe, flowering 

 ash, poison-ash, graybeard-tree, old- 

 man's-beard, shavings, snowdrop-tree, 

 snow-flower. 



Habitat and range. — The fringe-tree 

 is native in moist thickets and along 

 streams from Delaware to Florida 

 and Texas. 



Description of shrub. — When in full 

 flower this shrub or small tree, with 

 its dense clusters of white, fringelike 

 flowers, is very attractive, and is often 

 cultivated for ornament. It is a member of the olive family (Oleacese), and is 

 from 6 to 20 feet in height, the trunk covered with a light-colored bark, the 

 139 



Fig. 42. 



—Fringe-tree (Ghionanthus virgin- 



i'-tn. leaves and flowers. 



