| Green Ash is a fairly common overstory tree of riversides and other wet habitats. Similar to White Ash (Fraxinus americana), which is more common and occurs in a wider variety of habitats, but the leaves are not glaucous (whitish) beneath. Durham Co., NC 9/6/08.
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| The wings on the samaras (fruits) extend slightly farther along the seed than in White Ash. Durham Co., NC 9/6/08.
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| The leaves are paler beneath, but green, not whitish. The easiest way to tell the species apart is to look at the leaf scars -- in Green Ash the lateral bud is above the leaf scar; in White Ash the bud sits within the U-shaped scar. However, this difference is not always consistent -- I've seen a vigorously growing White Ash with nearly flat leaf scars, not embracing the bud. Several varieties of this variable species have been described, but they're not usually recognized as valid.
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| Durham Co., NC 6/8/03.
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| The male flowers are in bizarre dark brown clusters. Chapel Hill, NC 5/6/06.
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| Bark of a medium-sized tree. The bark is less ridged than that of White Ash. Durham, NC 9/11/08.
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| Orange Co., NC 5/7/2011.
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More information:
Trees of Alabama and the Southeast
US Forest Service Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology
Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides
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