Oleaceae FAMILY Critically Endangered

Fraxinus americana

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Fraxinus americana is a deciduous tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to 35 metres tall. The bole of larger trees can be 150 - 180cm in diameter[ 11 Title Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Publication Author Bean. W. Publisher Murray Year 1981 ISBN - Description A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures. , 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. ]. One of the most valuable hardwood timber trees in N. America[ 226 Title Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Publication Author Lauriault. J. Publisher Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. Year 1989 ISBN 0889025649 Description Very good on identification for non-experts, the book also has a lot of information on plant uses. ], whilst also having medicinal uses, It has been used in shelterbelt plantings. Fraxinus americana is the most common and useful native ash of the US but is suffering the devastating impact of a recently introduced invasive pest, the Emerald Ash Borer, that has rapidly spread across much of the tree's native range of White Ash and shows no sign of stopping. The pest causes virtually 100% mortality of White Ash populations. Current research shows that the overwhelming majority of ash populations will very quickly be overcome by this infestation. As such, a population decline of at least 80% over the next 100 years (and likely much faster than that) is assumed. Therefore the plant is classified as 'Critically Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEastern and central N. America - Ontario to Quebec, south to Colorado, Texas and Florida

HabitatRich upland to lowland woods[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. , 82 Title Manual of the Trees of N. America. Publication Author Sargent. C. S. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ Publisher Dover Publications Inc. New York. Year 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X Description Two volumes, a comprehensive listing of N. American trees though a bit out of date now. Good details on habitats, some details on plant uses. Not really for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the internet. ]. Usually found in association with other hardwood trees in well-drained soils on slopes; at elevations up to 1,050 metres[ 227 Title Trees of North Texas Publication Author Vines. R.A. Publisher University of Texas Press. Year 1982 ISBN 0292780206 Description A readable guide to the area, it contains descriptions of the plants and their habitats with quite a bit of information on plant uses. , 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].