Green AshFraxinus Pennsylvanica

ByDavid Marquardt

Classification(1)

• Kingdom: Plantae• Subkingdom Tracheobionta• Class: Eudicots • Order: Lamiales• Family: Oleaceae• Genus: Fraxinus• Species: F. pennsylvanica

Shape, Form and Leaves (2)Tends to be 40 feet highHas a near 2 foot diameter trunkHas a round top with branches that droop back towards the ground

The leaves are opposite and compoundLeaflets are arranged pinnately and can be 6-10 inches longLeaves have coarse teeth and are somewhat glossy. Figure 1

Bark and Twigs (2)

The bark is gray or tan It has a tightly furrowed diamond pattern in its barkThe trunk can 100 cm wide making this a medium to large tree

The twigs upper surface of the leaf scar is flat or slightly notched

Figure 2

Figure 3

Habitat and Range (3)The Green Ash covers a wide area from Florida to Texas and all the way to Nova Scotia and Alberta

The Ash grows best in a humid climate with 15 to 60 inches of rain Average high and low temperatures are 80 degrees to 0 degreesIt is most commonly found on alluvial plains near rivers and grows naturally in lowlands Figure 4

Bud, Fruit, and Flower (2)The bud remains small in about two weeks it blossoms.

Flowers are small and inconspicuousThey appear all over the outer part of the crownIt takes 2-3 days to release the pollen

The fruit has a single wing and turns a light brown when mature The wing travels only short distances by air but can travel very far on water

Figure 5

Figure 6

Uses (3)This is a largely ornamental tree. It is sold mostly in the south although it can grow throughout the United StatesIt is also used in tool handles and baseball bats

Figure 7

Bibliography

• Internet sources– 1 Nursery Trees.com. 2007. Plant guide.

http://www.nurserytrees.com/Plant_Guide/PlantGuide_green_ash.htm

– 2 Richard Keim. 2003. Green ash. http://www.fwf.lsu.edu/plantid/webtour/species/greenash/greenash.htm

– 3 Harvey Kennedy Jr. Green Ash. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/fraxinus/pennsylvanica.htm

Bibliography (cont.)• Picture Sources

– Figure 1 Texas Forest service. 2008. Green ash. http://texastreeid.tamu.edu/content/TreeDetails/?id=43

– Figure 2 Steven J. Baskauf. 2002. Fraxinus Pennsylvanica. http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/f/hfrpe--brlarge13406.JPG

– Figure 3 Steven Baskauf. 2002. Faxinus Pennsylvanica, twig. http://www.discoverlife.org/IM/I_SB/0174/320/Fraxinus_pennsylvanica,Twig,I_SB17457.jpg

– Figure 4 Harvey Kennedy Jr. Green Ash. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_2/fraxinus/pennsylvanica.htm

Bibliography (cont.)

– Figure 5 Dave Hanson. Tree identification. http://www.mntca.org/images/photos/resources/treeid/dec_opp_ash_green/ph_ash_green_lrg_08.jpg

– Figure 6 Adam Agosta. 2003. Green Ash. http://www.fwf.lsu.edu/plantid/webtour/species/greenash/images/FRApe71a_web.jpg

– Figure 7 Steven Wright. 2007. Green Ash. http://www.fwf.lsu.edu/plantid/webtour/species/greenash/greenash.htm