ight of a few feet, throws off two
or three large limbs, and is soon lost amid the slender, often gently
curving branches, forming a rather open, rounded head widest at or near
the base, with light and graceful foliage, and a stout, rather sparse,
glabrous, and sometimes flattish spray.

=Bark.=--Bark of trunk in mature trees easily distinguishable at some
distance by the characteristic gray color and uniform striation; ridges
prominent, narrow, flattish, firm, without surface scales but with fine
transverse seams; furrows fine and strong, sinuous, parallel or
connecting at intervals; large limbs more or less furrowed; smaller
branches smooth and grayish-green; season's shoots polished olive green;
leaf-scars prominent.

=Winter Buds and Leaves.=--Buds short, rather prominent, smooth, dark or
pale rusty brown. Leaves pinnately compound, opposite, 6-12 inches long;
petiole smooth and grooved; leaflets 5-9, 2-5 inches long, deep green
and smooth above, paler and smooth, or slightly pubescent (at least when
young) beneath; ovate to lance-oblong, entire or somewhat toothed; apex
pointed; base obtuse, rounded or sometimes acute; leaflet stalks short,
smooth; stipules and stipels none.

=Inflorescence.=--May. In loose panicles from lateral or terminal buds
of the previous season's shoots, sterile and fertile flowers for the
most part on separate trees, numerous, inconspicuous; calyx in sterile
flowers 4-toothed, petals none, stamens 2-4, anthers oblong; calyx in
fertile flowers unequally 4-toothed or nearly entire, persistent; petals
none, stamens none, pistil 1, style 1, stigma 2-cleft.

=Fruit.=--Ripening in early fall, and hanging in clusters into the
winter; a samara or key 1-2 inches long, body nearly terete, marginless
below, dilating from near the tip into a wing two or three times as long
as the body.

=Horticultural Value.=--Hardy throughout New England; prefers a rich,
moist, loamy soil, but grows in any well-drained situation; easily
transplanted, usually obtainable in nurseries, and can be collected
successfully. It is one of the most desirable native trees for landscape
and street plantations, on account of its rapid and clean growth,
freedom from disease, moderate shade, and richly colored autumn foliage.
As the leaves appear late in spring and fall early in autumn, it is
desirable to plant with other trees of different habit. Propagated from
seed.

[Illustration: PLATE LXXXIII.--Fraxinus Americana.]