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<\/p>\nAsh Trees in Indiana \u2013 Fall is a good time to id them<\/p>\n
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The two most common ashes in Indiana are green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica<\/em>) and white ash (F. americana<\/em>).\u00a0 They are both native trees found in local woods and are both common landscape trees in yards and along streets.\u00a0 Figuring out that a tree is an ash is pretty easy.\u00a0\u00a0 Ashes have thick twigs with opposite compound leaves with pinnate (coming off the stem at the same place like parts of a feather) leaflets.\u00a0 The bark of ashes is distinctive, often having a diamond-shaped pattern of ridges defining its deep fissures.\u00a0\u00a0 Ashes have paddle-shaped seeds that look a little like one half of a maple helicopter.\u00a0 Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees.\u00a0 Often old flowers remain on trees, somewhat mummified, when they have been infected by mites.\u00a0 This is one of the most distinctive features of ashes in our area.<\/p>\n Compound leaves and stout twigs<\/p><\/div>\n Detail of bark with diamond pattern in the ridges<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ash flowers that have been attacked by mites<\/p><\/div>\n It is hard to tell green and white ash apart, however.\u00a0 Characteristics of the leaf scars can work, but on tall trees you often can\u2019t see these.\u00a0 When naturally occurring, green ash tends to be found in wetter sites, but this is variable and many of our ashes have been planted\u00a0 Luckily, in the fall, green ashes tend to turn red (think Christmas theme) while white ashes tend to turn yellow.<\/p>\n Green ash with reddish leaves<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n White ash turns yellowish in fall<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Indiana has three other species of ash.\u00a0 Blue ash (F. quadrangulata<\/em>) is usually a smallish tree or shrub (but it can get quite large).\u00a0 It has winged stems (corkish extentions on the young branches).\u00a0 Black ash (F. nigra<\/em> ) is found in moist woods.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never convinced myself that I\u2019ve seen one.\u00a0 Pumpkin ash (F. profunda)<\/em> tends to be a smaller tree with broader leaflets.\u00a0 Its trunks are often swollen at the base.\u00a0 It also grows in wet woods.<\/p>\n Fraxinus <\/em>is an ancient Latin name for trees of this group.\u00a0\u00a0 Ash wood is traditionally use for making baseball bats.\u00a0 It is also used for tool handles and furniture.\u00a0 Other trees in our area with the common name ash, mountain-ash and wafer ash are unrelated species, what botanists would call \u201cnot true ashes.\u201d<\/p>\n All Fraxinus<\/em> are currently under threat from Emerald Ash Borer bugs.\u00a0 They are non-native invasive pests that have caused the death of a lot of ash trees in Michigan. They don\u2019t move very far on their own, but can be transported in fire wood.\u00a0 Trees can be treated with pesticides to protect them.\u00a0 More information on EAB at: http:\/\/extension.entm.purdue.edu\/EAB\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Historical studies show ashes made up 12% percent of Marion County\u2019s woods in the early 1800s.\u00a0 Recent studies conducted by staff and students of the Friesner Herbarium at Butler University show ash to comprise 3%\u00a0 of current remnant natural areas in the city.\u00a0 They are estimated to be 7% of our planted street trees.<\/p>\n The best book on Indiana trees is that by my friend and all around great guy Marion Jackson, 101 Trees of Indiana<\/span> published by IU Press in 2004.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ash Trees in Indiana \u2013 Fall is a good time to id them The two most common ashes in Indiana are green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and white ash (F. americana).\u00a0 They are both native trees found in local woods and … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.butler.edu\/indianaplants\/files\/2011\/10\/IMG_00221.jpg\")
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