Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.

Characteristics:

Leaves: Pinnately compound, opposite, 7-9 leaflets; lanceolate to elliptical in shape, one and a half inches wide and 6 inches long, edges are serrated, leaflets are green on both sides but turn to yellow to brownish red in fall.

Flower: Staminate (Male) and Pistillate (Female) are found on different trees in small purple clusters that appear when unfolding occurs in leaves.

Fruit: Lanceolate or reverse lanceolate shaped, single winged fruits with rounded ends, up to 2 1/2 inches long & 1/3 inch long.

Twig: Smooth, brownish to grayish in color, size ranges from thin to thick, leaf scars half-round & straight edged along the top with numerous bundle traces.

Bud:  1/4 inch long, fuzzy, dark brown in color, round shape.

Bark: Various shades of gray, ridged to scaly, diamond-shaped grooves with flat tops. 

Form: Average tree is 60 feet tall and 2 and a half feet wide at the trunk.  Crown is wide & well rounded with numerous thin branches

 Habit: Lowland forest

Range: From Maine to as far north as Saskatchewan and Minnesota, to Texas and east to Florida.

Location: Mattoon, Illinois

Wood Uses: Heavy, strong, light brown wood used in making handles for tools, baseball bats, and wood trim.

Distinguishing Features: Leaflets are green on both the dorsal and ventral sides. 

Sources:  Mohlenbrock, Robert.  (N.D.).  Forest Trees of Illinois.  Springfield, IL:  Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

© 2003 Cumberland High School. Lauren H. 

Contact Information- lstarwalt@cumberland.k12.il.us

Link to Native Trees of Illinois Index Page