Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra)

Form

Medium-sized tree; height 50 to 75 feet, diameter 1 to 2 feet. Forming an open crown of narrow, upright branches in the forest.

Bark

Grayish on older portions of tree, furrowed and somewhat separated into thin scales that are easily rubbed off. White lenticels appear on lower trunk and roots.

Leaf

Opposite on stem; compound, consisting of 7 to 11 leaflets; leaflets oblong in shape, tapering to a point, and not stalked, except the terminal leaflet; leaflets sharply toothed along edges; terminal bud is large and pointed.

Fruit

A samara, similar to that of all ashes, except that the thin wing nearly surrounds the flattened seed. The wing is broader than that of white or green ash, and the apex of the wing is distinctly notched.

Range

Fairly well distributed over entire state; most abundant in cold, moist locations and along low banks of streams. Usually found in association with black spruce, balsam fir, white cedar and tamarack.

Wood

Dark brown, sapwood of lighter color, coarse grained, heavy; not as strong or valuable as green or white ash; easily separated into thin layers furnishing excellent material for baskets, hoops, etc.; also used for cabinet making and fence posts.