BLACK ASH or

BROWN ASH

BLACK ASH or Brown Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Black ash is quite a common tree in Maine. It grows almost entirely on rich, moist ground or in cold, wet swamps and along the banks of streams. It is a rather tall, slender tree, with slender branches and a short, narrow head. It grows to a height of 50-60 feet and a diameter of 10-20 inches. The trunk is often without branches for a considerable distance from the ground.

The bark is gray to dark gray, corky and spongy, with more or less parallel ridges. It rubs off freely with the hand.

The leaves are 12-15 inches long, opposite, and have 7-11 leaflets which are 4-5 inches long, and without stalks except the one at the tip. Leaflets are lance-shape, and have remotely-toothed margins. The upper surface is dark green. There are buff-colored hairs at the junction of the leaflets and rachis,

The fruit is a single samara occurring in clusters. The seed is flattened and completely surrounded by the wing.

The twigs are smooth, gray to olive green. The buds are black or brown and pointed at the tip. The inner layer of the bark is dirty white.

The wood is coarse grained, heavy, tough, durable, and pliable. It is used for interior finishing, cabinet work, barrel hoops, baskets, mouldings, door panels, plywood and, to a limited extent, pulp.