White White Ash “Autumn Purple” ( Fraxinus Americana)

Scientific Classification Kingdom:Plantae Division:Magnoliophyta Class:Magnoliopsida Order:Scrophulariales* Family:Oleaceae Genus:Fraxinus Species:Americana

Tree Description Height ft Extreme 90 ft Trunk 2-4 fta Hardwood Tree Wood is hard, strong and elastic The bark is rough dark gray, deep diamond shaped furrows and forking ridges.

Leaf Description Deciduous Opposite Compound Pinnately compound Margins toothed Leaflets similar in size and shape Leaflets with short stems Leaflets irregularly toothed, or only near tip Twigs and leaf stalks smooth

Root System White ash generally forms a taproot that in turn branches into a few large roots vertical roots, single lateral branches develop at intervals

Reproduction flowers appear with or just before the leaves in April and May Pollen shedding from an individual tree usually takes 3 or 4 days The pollen is carried by wind as far as 328 ft from the point of dispersion Female buds are completely open a few days after they begin to swell Almost 99 percent of the fruits (samaras) contain one seed, about 1 percent contain two

Fruit Single winged Elongate Seed cavity round or flattened Fruit straight to 3 inches Tan Attracts birds; fruit, twigs, or foliage cause significant litter; showy

Female Flower (Right) Male Flower (Left) Flower pictures

World distribution White ash grows most commonly on fertile soils with a high nitrogen content Soil moisture is an important factor affecting local distribution White ash is found in various topographic situations In the Central States it is most common on slopes along major streams

Habitat/growth environment Deep, moist, well drained soil, pH adaptable, full sun

Economic importance juice from the white ash leaves can be topically applied to a mosquito bite to relieve swelling and itching best known as the wood most often used baseball bats hockey sticks, billiard cues, skis and oars, and as tool handles because of its strength, light weight, and shock absorbency also used for chairs and other furniture pieces because it is one of the best woods for steam bending due to its flexibility

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