The Red Ash —Fraxinus Pennsylvamca 
'T^TTE Red Ash or River Ash is easily 
^ recognized at any season of the year 
by the distinct pubescence upon the bark 
of the young twigs. In summer the leaf¬ 
lets are seen to be distinctly stalked like 
those of the White Ash but differing from 
that species in that the stalks, the petioles 
and more or less of the under surface of 
the leaves are covered with fine hairs. 
The under surface of the blades is lighter 
green than the upper surface. In autumn 
the leaflets become first yellowish, then 
brownish, falling to the ground rather early. 
The fruit is similar to that of the White 
Ash except that the wing instead of being 
terminal extends well down the sides of 
the basal seed-bearing parts. 
The Red Ash is a rare tree in compari¬ 
son with the abundant White Ash. It 
occurs along river banks and is found over 
a wide territory, extending from New Bruns¬ 
wick to Manitoba on the north, to Dakota 
and Missouri on the west, and to Alabama 
and Florida on the south. Like the Black 
Ash it is sometimes called the Brown Ash. 
It is easily started from seed and has 
almost as many claims for landscape plant¬ 
ing as has the White Ash. 
There has been considerable discussion 
in regard to the specific relationships of the 
Red Ash and the tree which is commonly 
called the Green Ash, a sort which differs 
chiefly in having the bark of the twigs 
smooth. The gist of the matter seems to 
have been concisely stated by Professor 
C. S. Sargent, who writes: 
“East of the Mississippi river the Red 
and Green Ashes grow side by side and retain 
their individual character; but in the West 
they are connected by intermediate forms 
which can be referred to one as well as to 
the other.” 
The Red Ash is one of the trees most 
easily recognized in winter on account 
of the grayish pubescence on the bark of 
the young branches. The surface of the 
bark is marked by slight longitudinal stria- 
tions and numerous whitish oval dots which 
are often concealed by the pubescence. 
The buds are dark brown, and rather 
small with the surface of the scales downy. 
The terminal buds are wedge-shaped. 
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