178 



58. — [Fraxhius pistacicvfoJia. Torrey.) 



A small but rather abiiDclant ash occurring along streams and on 

 rocky plains, often growing in the crevices of rocks where there is but 

 little soil. It ranges through southern Xew Mexico (southern and east- 

 ern Arizona; also in southern Xevada. in the mountains of western 

 Texas, and south into Mexico). Thirty to 40 feet, with a diameter rarely 

 more than 1 foot. The timber is heavy, coarse-grained, and decays rap- 

 idly, but is apparently tiseful for many of the same purposes as the 

 eastern White Ash; sometimes employed for wagon-stock, handles, etc. 



Description. — Leaves compound, Tvith from 2^ to 3* pairs of leaflets, the latter vaiy- 

 in£ much in size and form ; 1 to 4i inches long, t to 2 inclies wide, ovate to narrowly 

 lance-sliaped ; margin sometimes entire, but chiefly with short, shallow, distant teeth ; 

 smooth above and below, but latter surface often downy, the veins always more or less 

 so, as also are the young shoots and leaf-stems. Seeds f to If inches long, narrow, 

 with a spatulate wing at the end, which is rather broadly notched, rounded, or with 

 sharp point; abundant. Branches round. 



59. — Red Ash. {Fraxhius inLhescens. Lam.) 



A rather small tree, 30 to 40 feet in height, with a diameter seldom 

 more than Ih feet; very rare in the Eocky Mountain region (being found 

 chiefly in the northern and Atlantic States) ; generally growing along 

 water-courses and in swampy situations. The wood is rather heavy, 

 hard, and strong, but large timber is often brittle and much inferior to 

 that of the White Ash. though occasionally used for the same purposes 

 as the latter. 



Descnjition. — Leaves compound with 3i to 4|- (commonly the former) pairs of leaf- 

 lets, varying in length from 3 to 5 inches, aui in width from 1 to nearly 2 inches: 

 ovate to oblong — lance-shaped, with rounded base and rather long, thin point ; margin 

 chiefly entire, but sometimes with shallow or indistinct teeth; smooth above and 

 woolly beneath ; leaf-stems and young shoots rusty-velvety. Seed 1* to 2 inches long, 

 narrow and pointed at the base, broadening into a narrow wing above V of an inch or 

 less in width. Freshly parted barh of the branches reddish. 



60. — Geeex Ash. [Fra.rinus riridis, Michx. f.) 



A middle-sized tree of considerable imi^ortance on account of its 

 adaptability to various situations, though in its natural state found 

 mostly in rather moist soil of bottoms and along streams. It occurs in 

 the eastern Eocky Mountain ranges of Montana, Wahsatch Mountains 

 (in cemtral Utah), and in the ranges of eastern and northern Arizona 

 (eastward it is found along the Atlantic coast and north of the United 

 States boundary'. Forty to GO feet in height and 1 to H feet in diameter. 

 The wood is heavy, hard, and strong, often coarse-grained, and although 

 generally inferior in quality to that of the AVhite Ash. it is used as a 

 substitute for the latter. 



Desa^ipdon. — Leaves compound, with 2^ to 4i pairs of leatlets, which are 2 to 5| 

 inches long and from i to If inches wide ; ovate, oblong-ovate to lance-shaped, often 

 with long tapering point, sometimes rather wedge-shaped or rounded at the basej 



