| 2. BLACK ASH Fraxinus nigra Marshall |
| Black ash is a tree most commonly found in deep swamps. Occasionally, though, it's found mixed with other hardwoods in moist, cold forests. Its wood is heavy, rather soft, tough, coarse-grained, and is used for hoops, chair bottoms, and baskets. |
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| Bark - ashy
gray in color, somewhat furrowed, forming thin, smoothish scales which are easily rubbed
off. Twigs - very stout, similar to those of white ash but not shiny and usually a lighter gray in color; leaf scar typically oval. Winter buds - buds resembling those of white ash though usually decidedly black; terminal bud as long or longer than broad, sharp-pointed; lateral buds much smaller, blunt-pointed; last pair of lateral buds at some distance from the terminal bud instead of nearly on a level, as in the white ash. Leaves - opposite, compound, 10 to 14 inches long, with 7 to 11 leaflets similar to those of white ash but much longer in proportion to their width, without stems. Fruit - a winged seed, with the wing broader and distinctly notched at the tip; in clusters, ripening in the early autumn. Distinguishing features - found in moist locations; leaflets without stems; black buds; notched tip in seed.
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