=4. Fraxinus pennsylvánica= Marshall. Red Ash. White Ash. Swamp Ash.
Plate 127. Usually medium sized trees much like the preceding; twigs
velvety pubescent at maturity; leaves generally 2-3 dm. long, rachis
pubescent; leaflets 5-9, usually 7, generally 5-15 cm. long, on stalks
generally about 0.5 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as
long, leaflets generally ovate, ovate-oblong, or oblong to
narrow-oblong, generally with a narrowed base, sometimes rounded and
oblique, short or long acuminate at the apex, margins sometimes entire,
generally entire near the base, the remainder more or less serrated with
shallow teeth, dark green and smooth above, a lighter green beneath and
more or less densely pubescent all over the lower surface, especially on
the midrib and veins; calyx persistent, about 1 mm. long; fruit can not
be distinguished from the preceding.
=Distribution.=--Quebec to Manitoba, and south to Florida. Found
sparingly in all parts of Indiana. It is usually found in low ground,
but frequently on bluffs, and flood plain banks.
=Remarks.=--This species is not commonly separated from the white ash
group, but in books it is known as the red ash. This is the common name
that should be applied to this form.
This species is not usually separated from the preceding, but it is
easily distinguished from it by its pubescent twigs. It can be
distinguished from the next by its smaller twigs, smaller calyx and
smaller fruit.
The wood is similar to that of the white ash, and the cut is usually
sold as that species. In mechanical qualities it is on a par with the
green ash.
=5. Fraxinus profúnda= Bush. Swell-butt Ash. Plate 128. Medium or large
trees with fissured bark similar to the white ash; twigs robust and
velvety pubescent at least while young; leaves generally 2-4 dm. long,
rachis densely pubescent, rarely almost smooth; leaflets 5-9, generally
7, on stalks 0.5-1 cm. long, the terminal one on a stalk 2-4 times as
long, leaflets ovate, narrow-ovate to narrow-oblong, narrowed or rounded
and oblique at the base, short or long taper-pointed at the apex,
margins entire, rarely with a few short teeth, dark green and smooth
above, a lighter green and densely pubescent beneath, rarely somewhat
smooth; calyx persistent, generally 4-5 mm. long, rarely as short as 3
mm.; fruit ripening in September and October, linear, generally 4-6 cm.
long, variable in size and shape, body about 1/3 the length of the
samara, compressed or flattened and gradually narrowed to the base, the
striations on the face of the body not prominent and usually not
distinct the full length of the body, samara often unilateral or
somewhat falcate; wings notched or merely rounded at the apex, decurrent
on the body 1/4-1/2 its length, sometimes almost terminal.
[Illustration: Plate 128.