215 



BLACK ASH. 



Fraxinus nigra, Marshall. 



FORM — A medium-sized tree which usually attains a height of 60-80 ft. with a diameter of 

 1-2 ft., but may reach a height of 100 ft. with a diameter of 2i feet. It usually has a rather 

 tall, slender trunk often free from branches for a considerable distance from the groimd bearing 

 a narrow and shallow crown formed by numerous rather upright branches. Usually found in the 

 forest, where the slender form prevails, but occasionally may be found in the open, where Its 

 form resembles that of the White Ash, 



BARK — Thin, grayish, shallowly and irregularly fissured; ridges between the fissures decidedly 

 scaly and somewhat corky. By rubbing the bark it breaks up into a very fine powder. See 

 Fig. 87. 



TWIGS — Rather stout, at first somewhat hairy, but soon becoming quite smooth. Resemble 

 those of the White Ash but lighter in color, and not so smooth and glossy. 



BUDS — Opposite; terminal bud present, ovate, sharp-pointed, black, covered with 1-2 pairs of 

 visible bud-scales, usually at some distance from nearest lateral buds; lateral buds usually, 

 almost as broad as long, often obtuse at 'aptx, closely oppressed to twigs. 



LEAVES — Opposite, compound, about 14 inches long, with 7-11 sessile leaflets. Leaflets are 

 all sessile except the terminal one, 3-5 inches long, about H inches wide, acute at the apex, 

 serrate on the margin, wedge-shaped at the base, dark green and smooth above, paler below. 



LEAF-SCARS — Opposite, large, conspicuous, crescent-shaped, upper margin usually straight 

 or convex; bundle-scars numerous arranged in a curved line, sometimes joined so as to form a 

 compound scar. 



FLOWERS — Appear about May before the leaves. Staminate and pistillate borne on the same 

 or different trees; the staminate in dense, dark purplish clusters; the pistillate in rather open 

 panicles. 



FRUIT — A samara which resembles the fruit of the White and Red Ashes, but differs in that 

 the wing is broader, decidedly notched at the apex, and completely surrounds the somewhat 

 flattened seed bearing portion. 



WOOD — Ring-porous; heavy, smooth, soft, not strong, rather coarse grained, somewhat dur- 

 able. Heartwood dark brown with white sapwood; marked difference between spring and sum- 

 mer wood; annual layers of the wood easily separated. Pores in spring wood in a broad zone 

 often comprising one-half of the ring. Pores in summer wood large, few, scattered. Weighs 

 39.37 lbs. per cubic foot. Used in the manufacture of baskets, hoops, chair bottoms, and the 

 interior finishing of houses. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Black Ash, also known as Hoop, Swamp, Basket, 

 and Brown Ash, can readily be distinguished from all the other species of Ash in Pennsylvania 

 in summer by its opposite and compound leaves with sessile leaflets. The leaflets of all other 

 species of Ashes are evidently-stalked. In winter it can be recognized by its black and acute 

 buds, its scaly, non-fissured bark, and its tall and slender form. In autumn by it* fruit with a 

 flattish body which passes insensibly into the wing. 



RANGE — Newfoundland to Manitoba, south to Virginia and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Generally distributed over the State. Common in the 

 eastern, southern, central and western parts. Rare in mountainous portion except in moist 

 valleys. 



HABITAT — Prefers swampy habitats, in this respect differing very much from the other 

 species of Ash native to the State. Flourishes best in the cooler portions of its range. Seldom 

 thrives on dry ground. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — This species has probably never been grown for forestry 

 purposes. It may be so recommended where natural reproduction may be depended upon and in 

 such locations where other more valuable trees will not grow. Few better species grow in its 

 chosen home and consequently it may be one which we will plant in the future in extremely 

 wet locations together with others such as Spruce, Fir, and Larch. 



