Michigan Trees Part 45

+White Ash+

_Fraxinus americana L._

HABIT.--A large tree 50-75 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; forming an open, pyramidal crown of long, slender, lateral branches and a stout, rather spa.r.s.e spray.

LEAVES.--Opposite, pinnately compound, 8-12 inches long. Leaflets usually 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-2 inches broad; short-stalked; ovate to oblong-lanceolate; entire or obscurely serrate; thick and firm; glabrous, dark green above, paler beneath. Petioles glabrous, stout, grooved.

FLOWERS.--May, before the leaves; dioecious; borne in loose panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx campanulate, 4-lobed; corolla 0; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled.

FRUIT.--August-September, persistent on the branches until mid-winter or the following spring; samaras 1-2 inches long, in crowded, drooping, paniculate cl.u.s.ters 6-8 inches long.

WINTER-BUDS.--Short, rather obtuse; bud-scales apiculate, keeled, 4 pairs, rusty-brown.

BARK.--Twigs at first dark green, becoming gray or light brown, often covered with a glaucous bloom; gray, deeply furrowed into firm, narrow, flattened ridges on the trunk.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, close-grained, tough, brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Of common occurrence throughout the state.

HABITAT.--Prefers a rich, moist, loamy soil, but grows in any well-drained situation; common along stream-beds.

NOTES.--Grows rapidly. Easily transplanted. Fairly free from disease.

Leaves appear late in spring.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Red Ash+

1. Winter twig, 1.

2. Leaf, 1/3.

3. Staminate flowering branchlet, 1/2.

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, 1/2.

6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

7. Fruit, 1.]

+OLEACEAE+

+Red Ash+

_Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh._ [_Fraxinus p.u.b.escens Lam._]

HABIT.--A medium-sized tree 30-50 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; stout, upright branches and slender branchlets form a compact, broad, irregular crown.

LEAVES.--Opposite, pinnately compound, 10-12 inches long. Leaflets 7-9, 3-5 inches long, 1-1-1/2 inches broad; short-stalked; oblong-lanceolate to ovate; slightly serrate or entire; thin and firm; glabrous, yellow-green above, pale and silky-downy beneath. Petioles stout, p.u.b.escent.

FLOWERS.--May, with the leaves; dioecious; borne in compact, downy panicles on shoots of the previous season; calyx cup-shaped, 4-toothed; corolla 0; stamens 2, rarely 3; ovary 2-celled.

FRUIT.--Early autumn, persistent on the branches throughout the winter; samaras 1-2 inches long, in open, paniculate cl.u.s.ters.

WINTER-BUDS.--Small, rounded; bud-scales rounded on the back, 3 pairs, rusty-brown, tomentose.

BARK.--Twigs pale-p.u.b.escent at first, lasting 2-3 years or often disappearing during the first summer, finally ashy gray or brownish and often covered with a glaucous bloom; brown or dark gray on the trunk, with many longitudinal, shallow furrows; somewhat scaly.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, strong, brittle, coa.r.s.e-grained, light brown, with thick, yellow-streaked sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Not a common tree. Most frequent in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, but has been reported further north, i.e., Drummond's Island and Keweenaw County, Upper Peninsula.

HABITAT.--Prefers wet or moist, rich loam; river-banks; swampy lowlands.

NOTES.--A rapid grower in youth. Fairly immune from insect and fungous diseases.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Green Ash+

1. Winter twig, 1.

2. Leaf, 1/3.

3. Staminate flowering branchlet, 1/2.

4. Staminate flower, enlarged.

5. Pistillate flowering branchlet, 1/2.

6. Pistillate flower, enlarged.

7. Fruit, 1.]

+OLEACEAE+

+Green Ash+

_Fraxinus pennsylvanica lanceolata (Borkh.) Sarg._ [_Fraxinus lanceolata Borkh._] [_Fraxinus viridis Michx. f._]

Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, and by others a variety of _F. pennsylvanica Marsh._, which it resembles. The main points of difference are:

The usual absence of p.u.b.escence from the branchlets, the underside of the leaflets, and the petioles.

The rather narrower, shorter, and more sharply serrate leaflets.

The color of the leaves, which is bright green on both sides.

A very hardy tree, of rapid growth and desirable habit, making it useful for ornamental and street planting. Easily transplanted.

Of rare occurrence in Michigan, but has been reported from several localities.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Blue Ash+

1. Winter twig, 1.