Download Ash Tree Fact Sheet

School or datural Resources,2021 Gottey Koad, Columbus,unio 43210
Are My Trees Ash?
Kathy L. Smith, Extension Associate, Forestry
A
sh trees are common throughout Ohio's rural and urban
landscape. They are an important conlponent of forests
throughout the state, with estimates suggesting that there may
be as many as 3.8 billion ash trees growing naturally throughout
Ohio's forests. Ash trees are also one of our most frequently
planted ornamental trees and are found planted in yards and
along streets throughout most Ohio communities.
Four species of ash are relatively common in Ohio's forests - white ash (Fraxinus dmericana), green ash (Fraxinus
pennsylvanica), black ash (Fraxims nigra), and blue as4 (Fraxinzu
quadr*angula~a).Most of the numerous cultivars of ash planted
in the urban landscape are derived from these four species. A
fifth species, pumpkin ash (Fraxinusprofinda), is native to Ohio
but not commonly found in today's forested landscape. White
ash, green ash, black ash, blue ash, and pumpkin ash are all true
ashes; they are members of the genus Fraxinus.
There are also a couple of other woody plants that have "ash"
in their name, such as mountain ash, wafer ash, and prickly ash.
but these plants are not true ash. They are not members of the
genus Fruxinus. Only the true ash are known to be susceptible
to emerald ash borer.
or toothed margins
(Figure 8), and have
an oar-shaped fruit
called a samara (Figure
3). White, green, and
black ash are prevalent
across the state. Blue
ash is more common
in the western part of
the state.
Differentiating b e
tween the four species
of ash that are cornmonly found in Ohio
isn't easy. However,
there are some key
characteristics to look
for that will help you
determine which ash
you are examining.
b
4
LJ
Figure 1. Opposite branching on a
young ash tree.
So, How Do I Know If It's an Ash?
Opposite Branching
Step One: Lookat a limbon thetreeanddeterminethe branching pattern. Is the tree oppositely or alternately branched?
Figure 1 shows opposite branching on a young ash sapling.
If it is alternately branched, it is not a true ash tree. If you are
looking at a tree that is oppositely branched, then you are looking
at either a maple, ash, dogwood, or buckeye tree.
Step Two: Look at the leaves ofthe tree in question.Ash trees
have a pinnately (feather-like) compound leaf (see Figures 2 and
8), usually with more than seven leaflets. The only other oppositely branched tree that has a compound leaf is boxelder (Acer
negzmdo), which almost always has three to five leaflets.
The ash as a genus lose their leaves in the fall, are opposite in
both the branching pattern and how the leaves are attached have
pinnately co~npoundleaves with leaflets that have either smooth
Figure 2. Pinnately compound ash leaf with I I leaflets.
1
Black Ash
(Fraxinus nigra)
Black ash is a smaller tree
than tither white or green ash,
commonly reaching 40 to 50
feet in height. Like green ash,
black ash's native habitat is that
of more poorly drained sites,
such as swamps, streams, and
riverbanks. The terminal buds
are more black when compared
to the brown of either green or
white ash (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Black ash bud.
Figure 3. Ash sarnara white, green, and black ash (left to right).
White Ash
(Fraxinus Americana)
White ash is the most
common of the four
ashes found in Ohio. It
is more ofan upland tree,
with little tolerance for
ating characteristics
between it and the other
ashes is the scar that a
fallen leafleavesbehind.
The leaf scar on white
ash has more of a grin
to it than
the other
ashes (Figure 4).
I
I
Blue Ash (Franinus quadrungulata)
Blue ash is commonly found on dry upland limestone sites in
Ohio. It is considered a medium-sized tree with the distinctive
characteristicof havingtwigsthat appear to be square. The wings
that grow on the twigs give the tree its square twig-identifying
characteristic (Figure 7). The bark of blue ash is shaggier in appearance than any of the other three ashes described here.
'
Figure 4. White ash smiling leaf scar.
Green Ash
(Fraxinus
pennsylvanica)
Green ash can be found in
a wide variety of sites across
the state, but its natural habitat
is more poorly drained soils,
usually along streams, in bottom lands, and throughout wet
woods. When comparing the
leaf scar of green ash to that of
white, the scar on green ash appears be more like a semicircle
with a flat line across the top
(Figure 5).
b
Figure 7. Left, blue ash bud. and right. square twig.
Resources
Textbook ofDendrology. Eighth edition. William M. Harlow,
Ellwood S. H a m , James W. Hardin, and Fred M. White. 1996.
McG~aw-HillJnc.
Trees of the Central Hardwood Forests of North America:
An Identijication and Cultivaiion Guide. Donald J. Leopold,
William C. McComb, Robert N. Muller. 1998. Timber Press.
The Woody Plants of Ohio. E Lucy Braun. 1989. Ohio State
University Press.
Figure 5. Green ash bud and leaf scar.
Acknowledgments
Figure 6 -Photo courtesy of Paul Wray, State Extension
Specialist, Iowa State University.
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MSU Extension Bulletin E-2892,Now May 2003
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~&s$Ic~u48hIcmg
Ash fimm
other Common Trees
&
Diane Brown-Ryitlmski anq Rebecca Thompson
Michigan State University IPM Program
becn h d on ash tresg (ssa page4). Not sum if )wrlrce is
an ash? This simple key is intended to help yw distinguish
Due to the resent discovery ofthe e m d d ash borer
bbtueon somo common deoiduau~landscape tras hquently
(MB) in Michigan, It is i m ~ o r ~ t t o ~ ~ l e tconfud
o r ~with ash, including: elm, boxelder, m-dnash,
and identify ash trcss. To date, emerald ash borer has y l y
and hkkorS..
zdevctif#ing US*
Using the
mx?S
kefj
Begin at number 1 on the key and choose @)or @). Then
proceed to the number listed in italics at the end of your
choice.This number will give you anew sot ofohoiws.
Continue this way through tbc key. We have listed enough
charactsristiosto help you determine whetha or not your tree
is an ash. If it doesn't match the chanlctsristics in the
relax; it most likely isn't an ash. If you doat want to use the
w,
I. a) Branches altanate (Fig. 1) -go ro 2
b) Blanches opposite (Fig.2) -go to 4
2 a) Simpleloaves, with irregular leafbase and
toothed edge (Pi3). Sw elm, page 2.
b) Compound laavos (Fig. 4). with 9 to IS leaflets,
h d y toothed around edge of loaf- go to 3
c) Compound leavoa, 5 to 7 lc8fIets -go lo 3c
3. a) Cut open twig lengtbiae.
Chamboredpith (Fig. 6). See Mack walnut, page 3.
key,w e ID photos am dhl pages 2-4.
If you are still curiousabout what kind of trow you have,
consult Extension Bulletin E-2332," I h t i f j h g T m s of
Michigan," or a good fidd guide such as: "TheTrco
Idantifioation Book," by Gaorge W.D. Symonds, "Tree
Findc~AManual for the Identification of T m by Their
Leaves:' by May T. Watts; or "A Field Ouido to Trees and
Shmba" by Ocorp A. Petrib. Them are many other good
guides available; these rrnr mentioned only as examples.
b) If pith is not chambered. but bas white flowers in May,
orange or red berries in fall. See mounnlnrrh pnga 3.
c) If pith is not chambad, but has three leaflets at end of
Idlergar than the m t . Seehlckoxy. page 2.
4. a) Compound leaves, 5 to 9 I d e t s , smooth or fmely toothed
mund outer edge. Ses ash, page 4.
b) Compound learn, 3 to 5 leaflets, fow ooatsc tcerh w nonq
snd l d s t pointed (Fig. 5). See boxalder, page 4.
Flg t- ~brtnceF@ 2- Opposlte Rg. 3- Slnple kof R& 4- Compound
(Amrican elm)
leaf. 7 IsPflea
kanching
branching
Llol~apsna~
ONhb =h)
Fb 5- Compound laaf.
3 leaflea (Boddar)
DeRn4tOons
Alternate - 1eeves;lomohesthat are staggered or not direcdy moss from each other, Pig 1.
Opposite - Iea~~enibranches
that en directly eoross fmm each other, Fig. 2.
Simple - a single leafbladejoined by its stalk to a woody stern, Fig 3.
Compound- a leaf with mom than one l d t . All leaflets attached to a single leafstem. Fig. 4-5.
Rg. 6- Chambered
pith (BlaJc walnut)
MK;HK;AN SI;QTE
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EXTENSION
,
1
Table 1. Leaf, Bark, and Seed Characteristics of the Four Ash Species Commonly Found in Ohio.
Leaves
Bark
Fruit
White Ash
8 to 12 inches long with
5 to 11 leaflets (usually 7); margin entire to
partially serrate.
Ashy gray and sn~ooth
when young, developing
diamond-shaped narrow
ridges as it ages.
Green Ash
6 to 10 inches in length
with 7 to 9 leaflets;
margin serrate along
entire length of leaflet.
Very similar to that of
white but not quite as
deeply furrowed.
Black Ash
10 to 16 inches long
with 7 to 1I leaflets;
margin finely serrate.
Blue Ash
8 to 12 inches long with
7 to 11 leaflets; margin
serrate.
Grayish in color and
Shaggier in appearance
smooth when the tree is than any of the other
young. attaining some
three aslies described
of the same furrows that here.
can be seen in the bark
of both green and white,
but usually not as deep.
Samara are broad to
Samara are 1 to 2 inches Samara typically 1-114
Samara 1 to 2 inches
to 2-114-inches long and oblong, usually I to
in length and 114-inch
in length with wing
wide; wing partially sur- 114 inch or less in length. 1-1/2-inches long, blunt completely enclosing
flattened seed.
The wing of this samara at the base.
rounding the seed.
is more pointed than that
of white ash.
1
Leaf Margins
@
smooth or
entire
toothed or
serrate
compound leaf
Figure 8.Leaf configurations and margins.
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