Black Ash – The Extinct Plant
Ash trees of the genus Fraxinus nigra are indigenous to much of Eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, from western Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Illinois and Virginia.
Family: Oleaceae
Genus: Fraxinus
Section: Fraxinus sect. Fraxinus
Species: F. nigra
- Ash trees reach heights of 15–20 m (exceptionally 26 m) and have trunk diameters up to 60 cm (24 inches) or up to 160 cm (63 inches) in exceptional cases.
via: hardyfruittrees
- Young trees have a grey and thick bark. With age, it becomes scaly and fissured.
via: forestryimages
- Flowers appear in spring shortly before the new leaves in loose panicles; they are inconspicuous with no petals and pollinated by the wind.
via: nrem
- Black ash grows commonly in swamps, often with the closely related green ash. Yellow foliage covers its fall foliage.
via: iNaturalist
- In the fall, black ash trees are among the first to lose their leaves. As it is closely related to Manchurian ash, it will easily hybridize with it. Some consider the two regions to be geographically isolated from one another.
via: eol
- The emerald ash borer was considered abundant in North America before its first detection there in 2002.
via: publications
- Black ash trees are now extinct throughout most of their range due to invasions of aphids.
via: Pinterest
- One United States company reported substantial losses in 2014. A Forest Service agent estimated that “ninety-nine per cent of the ash in North America will probably die.” Blue ash and white ash are only slightly less affected.
- Native Americans of the North East used this wood to make baskets and other devices. Baskets were also made from black ash by the Shakers. Also known as basket ash, brown ash, swamp ash, hoop ash, and water ash. Due to its good resonant qualities, it is suitable for making electric guitars and basses.
It is the only tree in North America whose growth rings are not connected by fibres. This is a valuable characteristic for basket makers. Using a hammer the springwood layer is crushed, allowing the tougher summer wood layer to be peeled off in long strips. In basket weaving, long pieces are trimmed, cleaned, and woven together. Native Americans of the Northeastern Woodlands also make bark baskets from black ash, commonly used to gather berries.
Blog Edited By Ritika Gupta
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