126 



OLEACE^E. 



Fraxinus. 



first pubescent, but finally almost smooth except on the midrib and larger veins, pale under- 

 neath : leaflets 2-4 inches long, varying from ovate to narrowly elliptical, more or less 

 abruptly narrowed at the base into a partial petiole, remotely denticulate-serrate, particularly 

 towards the summit, but sometimes entire or only waved on the margin (described by Michaux 

 as entire, but serrate in his figure) : petiole pubescent on one side. Flowers mostly triandrous, 

 in trichotomously divided panicles ; the divisions with sheathing deciduous bracts at the base. 

 Sterile panicles at first dense, at length more expanded. Pedicels slender, smooth. Calyx 

 campanulate, lacerately many-toothed at the summit. Petals none. Ovary oblong, 2-celled 

 with 2 ovules in each cell, tapering into a long deciduous style which is 2-cleft at the summit : 

 stigmas revolute. Samara 13 - 2 inches long, and the wing about one-fourth of an inch wide, 

 often very slightly emarginate ; the lower part terete, and tapering to the base. 



Woods and banks of rivers ; common in most parts of the State, but most abundant in the 

 western counties. Fl. April - May. Fr. July. The wood of this tree, being tough and 

 highly elastic, is employed for a great variety of purposes ; such as the shafts of carriages, 

 felloes of wheels, handles of scythes, rakes, etc., as well as for many parts of machinery. 



2. Fraxinus sambucifolia, Lam. Black Ash. Water Ash. 



Young branches and petioles nearly smooth ; leaflets usually in 4 pairs, broadly lanceolate, 

 sessile, obtuse at the base, serrate, acuminate, smooth above, more or less pubescent on the 

 veins underneath ; samara narrowly elliptical-oblong, obtuse, scarcely tapering at the base. — 

 Lam. diet. 2. p. 549 ; Michx. sylv. 2. p. 201. t. 122 ; Pursh, fl. 1. p. 8 ; Beck, hot. p. 232; 

 Load. arb. 2. p. 1334./. 1257 & 1258 ; Hook. fl. Bor.-Am. 2. p. 50; DC. prodr. 8. p. 278. 



A large tree, but commonly inferior in size to the preceding, and the bark of a darker grey 

 color ; the heart-wood of a brownish tinge. Young branches of a grayish color, sprinkled 

 with a few whitish warts and numerous little black dots : buds bluish. Leaflets sometimes 

 in only three pairs, 3-4 inches long, mostly smooth (except a pretty copious rusty wool on 

 the midrib, especially towards the base), deep bright green above, and but little paler under- 

 neath. Flowers much as in the preceding species. Samara an inch and a quarter long and 

 4-5 lines wide, emarginate ; the wing extending to the base. 



Wet woods and swamps ; rather scarce in the southern part of the State, but common in 

 the northern and western counties. Fl. May. Fr. July. The wood is tough and compact, 

 but is less durable than the White Ash. 



3. Fraxinus pubescens, Walt.?_ (Plate XC.) Gray Ash. 



Young branches terete and (as well as the petioles) smooth ; leaflets in about three pairs, 

 with partial footstalks, lanceolate and elliptical-lanceolate, with a long acumination, remotely 

 and obtusely serrate-denticulate, green on both sides, smooth except the axils of the veins and 

 along the midrib underneath ; samara linear-spatulate, the wing tapering on the narrow base. 

 —Walt. fl. Car. p. 254 ? F. tomentosa, Michx. f. sylv. 2. t. 119? 



