Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11 (1901) (20509422101)

Title: Bulletin (Pennsylvania Department of Forestry), no. 11
Identifier: bulletinpennsylv11pennx (find matches)
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Pennsylvania. Dept. of Forestry
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Harrisburg, Pa. : The Department : WM. Stanley Ray, state printer of Pennsylvania
Contributing Library: Penn State University
Digitizing Sponsor: Lyrasis Members and Sloan Foundation

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220 WHITE ASH Fraxinus americana, Linnaeus FORM—Usually reaches a height of 70-80 ft. with a diameter of 2-3 ft. but may attain a height of 120 ft. with a diamieter of 5-6 ft. Trunk usually tall, massive, clear of branches for a considerable distance from the ground when grown in the forest, bearing a naiTow, some- what pyramidal crown. When open-grown the crown is decidedly round-topped and often extends almost to the ground. In forest-grown trees tnmk often continuous and dividing into a number of spreading branches. BA&K—Grayish-brown, rather thick upon older trunks, decidedly divided by diamond-shaped Assures into rather flattened ridges which are covered by thin, close-fitting scales. Longitudinal ridges often transversely-fissured so that the primary fissures are connected. See Pig. 107. TWIOS—Opposite, stout, usually smooth, sometimes covered with a slight bloom, decidedly flattened at the nodes. During the first winter grayish-brown in color, and decidedly lustrous; covered by scattered, large, pale lenticols. BUDS—Opposite, ovate, blunt-pointed, usually dark brown, occasionally almost black. Term- inal bud larger than laterals, covered by 2-3 pairs of visible scales which occur opposite each other. Scales on the terminal buds may be somewhat sharp-pointed, while those on the lateral buds are usually obtuse. Two lateral buds are usually found at base of terminal bud causing a terminal enlargement of twl.v. LEAVES-^pposite, compound, about 10 inches long with 5-9 leaflets. leaflets 3-5 inches long, about IJ inches broad, evidently-stalked, slightly serrate on margin, acute at apex, wedge-shaped to rounded at base. When full grown usually smooth and dark green above and pale below. A few hairs are sometimes found along the veins on the lower surface. LEAF>SCABS—Opposite, semicircular in outline, notched on the upper margin, raised, con- spicuous; bundle-scars small, numerous, arranged in a curved line. FLOWERS—Appear about May before the leaves. The stamlnate and pistillate on different trees, Staminate occur in dense reddish-purple clusters; pistillate in rather open panicles. FBUIT—A samara, borne in dense drooping panicles about 7 inches long. Panicles often persist far into winter. Individual samara 1-2 inches long, consists of a seed bearing portion and a winged portion. Seed portion round in cross-section, terminated by the wing which aids in the dispersal of the seed. Since some trees bear staminate flowers only, seeds are never found upon them. WOOD—Ring-porous; very heavy and strong, odorless and tasteless, tough, elastic, and white to brown in color, with thick and lighter colored sapwood. Pores in spring wood large, usually 3-10 rows wide; in summer wood isolated or in groups of 2-3, and usually Joined by wood parenchyma. Weighs 41 lbs. per cubic foot. Used in manufacture of agricultural imple- ments, wagon building, furniture. Interior finishing of houses, and for tool handles. DISTIKGUISHINO CHARACTERISTICS—The White Ash, also known as the Canadian Ash, can be distinguished from the Black Ash by its leaves which have stalked leaflets, while the leaflets of the Black Ash are sessile. The buds of the White Ash are usually obtuse and brown in color, while those of the Black Ash are usually acute and black in color. The bark of the White Ash is usually furrowed and has diamond-shaped fissures between the ridges while the bark of the Itlack Ash is scaly, often corky and not furrowed. It can be distinguished from the Red Ash by lU smooth leaves and twigs. Those of the Red Ash are usually velvety-pubescent. The leaf-scars of the White Ash are usually evidently-indented in the upper margin, while those of the Bed Ash are not. The leaflets of the White Ash are entire-margined or obscurely toothed and silvery white on the lower sitfface while those of the Green Ash are evidently toothed and green on both sides. The seeds of the White Ash have wings which are fastened only to the apex of the seed, while in the Red Ash they are fastened to the apex and often extend down along the sides, and in the Black Ash the wing usually surrounds the seed. The Blltmore Ash (Fraxinus Biltmoreana, Beale), found (mly locally through the southern part of the State, is only a pubescent form of the White Ash. The twigs and lower surface of leaflets of the former species are pubescent. It is adapted to sontewhat drier sites, and grows more rapidly in youth than the White Ash. Its chief occurrence is on the limestone formation of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. RAlfGE—Nova Scotia to Minnesota and southward to Florida and Texas. DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA—Generally distributed throughout the State. Common in the eastern, southern, central, and western parts. Sparse in the mountainous parts, except in moist valleys and rich bottomlands. Locally it is rare in northern Pennsylvania, where it reaches its best development wi moist ^opes with a northern exposure. A thrifty plantation occurs near Ansonia in Tioga county. HABITAT—Prefers fertile, moist soils; very romnwn in rlh, moist woods and along streams, lakes, and other bodies of water. Occasionally found on rather dry hillsidcH. IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES—The M^hite Ash is one of the most important timber trees of Pennsylvania on account of the large size which it attains, its general distribution through- out the State, its rapid growth, as well as its immunity from, the attack of fungous diseases and insects. Nature did not produce it in pure stands, hence in developing our future foreirts we should aim to follow nature and plant White Ash in nOxture with wmie other desirable species. White Ash and White Pine will undoubtedly prove to be a valuable mixture.
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PLATE CXXIV. WHITE ASH 1. A lirnnch witli a cluster of staminate llower.s and iiiinmturc leaves, x J. 2. A panicle of pistillate Howers, x J. 3. A mature compound leaf, x J. 4. A cluster of fruit, x J. n. A winter twig, x J. 6. Section of a winter twig, enlarged. INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE

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