OLITE FAMILY. 



267 



less below, above extended into a lanceolate, oblanceolate or wedge-linear 

 wing. 



Americax Feaxixus. White Ash. 



40-CO and 80 feet high, and 2-3 feet in diameter, — the young branches smooth 

 and dotted with white specks. Leaflets 2-4 inches long, — at first downy, finally smooth 

 and green above, pubescent and glaucous beneath. Flowers with a minute 3 or 4-toothed 

 calyx. Samara terete at base, with a narrowish lance-oblong wing. 



Woodlands : throughout the United States, — but particularly in the Northern States. 

 Fl. May. Fr. 



Obs. The timber of this tree is highly valuable, and much used by 

 wheelwrights, coachmakers, &c. It also makes excellent fuel. 



2. F. pubes'cens, Lam. Leaflets 7 - 9, petiolulate, elliptic-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, subserrate ; petioles and youug branches velvety-pubescent ; 

 samaras linear-lanceolate. 



Pubescent Fraxinus. Eed Ash. 



stem 30 -.50 or 60 feet high, and 12-18 inches in diameter. Leaflets 2-3 inches long, — 

 more lanceolate and narrower than in the preceding — more pubescent beneath — and the 

 petiolules shorter. Samaras acute at the base, flattish and 2-edged, the edges gradually 

 dilated into the long oblanceolate or linear-lanceolate wing. 



Low grounds, along streams : throughout the United States. Fl. May. Fr. 



Obs. This has considerable resemblance to the preceding species ; but, 

 besides the pubescence of the young branches, it is a smaller and less 

 valuable tree. 



3. F. vir'idis, f- Glabrous throughout ; leaflets 5-9, ovate or 

 oblong-lanceolate, often wedge-shaped at the base and serrate above, 

 bright green on both sides ; fruit acute at the base, striate, 2-edged or 

 margined. 



Green Fagus. Green Ash. 



Small or middle-sized tree. 



Along streams : New England to Wisconsin and southward. 



** Fruit winged all round the seed-bearing portion ; calyx wanting, at 

 least in the fertile flowers, which are entirely naked. 



4. F. sambucifo'lia, Lam. Leaflets 7-11, sessile, ovate-lanceolate, 

 acuminate, serrate, somewhat rounded and unequal at base, hirsutely 

 bearded beneath on the midrib and in the angles of the nerves ; flowers 

 naked ; samaras oblong, obtuse at each end. 



Sambucus-leaved Fraxinus. Black Ash. Water Ash. 



stem 30-40 or 50 feet high, and 12-18 inches in diameter ; young branches glabrous, 

 green, sprinkled with black elliptic dots or warts. Leaflets 3-4 inches long, rugose and 

 shining above, with tufts of tawny pubescence in the angles of the nerves beneath. 

 Samaras broadish, of nearly uniform width. 



Low grounds, along rivulets, &c. : Northern and Middle States. Fl. April. Fr. 



Obs. The wood is very tough and easily separable into layers which 

 are used for making baskets, chair-bottoms, &c. There are several other 

 Species in the Southern and W^estern States, but I have not judged it 

 expedient to swell the work by a particular notice of them. 



