Ash

Ash Description:

Description of ash Height 35' to 80', up to 24" in diameter; round-topped or pyramidal crown.

Leaf

Opposite on stem, length 8" to 12" (white), 9" to 16" (black) pinnately compound with five to nine (white) or seven to 11 (black); plainly stalked, sharp-pointed leaflets; dark green and smooth above, pale green or whitish beneath; turns yellow or purple in autumn.

Bark

Light brown (white ash) or Dark (black ash) and nearly smooth on young twigs and branches; ridges are separated with marked regularities by deep diamond-shaped fissures.    

Fruit (seed)

Flat, winged, one-seeded samara, 1" to 2" long; the wide, thin wing that is rounded or slightly notched at the end, nearly surrounds the seed part;

Wood

White ash is close-grained, heavy, tough and elastic; white ash is preferred to all native woods for making tool handles and athletic and sports equipment; also used for agricultural implements, furniture, interior finishes, posts, ties, fuel, and for ornamental purposes. Black ash is unique among all trees in North America in that it does not have fibers connecting the growth rings to each other. This is a useful property for basket makers. By pounding on the wood with a mallet, the weaker spring wood layer is crushed, allowing the tougher and darker summer wood layer to be peeled off in long strips. The long strips are trimmed, cleaned, and used in basket weaving.        

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