Common name: Green Ash, Red Ash
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall APNI* Description: Small to medium sized deciduous tree to 20 m hgh with a round-topped crown, branches upright and spreading, trunk tall and slender. Winter buds covered with 3 pairs of rust-coloured scales. Dioecous.
Leaves opposite, 25–30 cm long, 7–9 leaflets; leaflets smooth to slightly toothed above the middle, apex acute, deep green on both surfaces, foliage turns yellow in autumn.
Flowers white, small, in clusters.
Fruits also in clusters, the fruit a samara of dried, flattened, comprising a single seed 1.5–3 cm long with an elongated apical wing 2–4 cm long and 3–7 mm broad, resembling a paddle with a rounded or pointed blade, wing extending alongside the seed halfway or more to the base.
Flowering: Spring
Distribution and occurrence: In 2006 found naturalised from old plantings on the bank of Jerrabomberra Creek, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Fyshwick, A.C.T. Native to eastern and central North America. Naturalised in western U.S.A., central Europe. Overseas naturally grows along stream banks and in disturbed areas. At Jerrabomberra Creek growing in brown loam on creek bank, with Alnus glutinosa, Salix sp., Ulmus sp. and Fraxinus angustifolia.
NSW subdivisions: *ST
Often planted as an ornamental tree.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: Elias, T.S (1980) The Complete Trees of Noth America.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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