Fraxinus nigra, or the black ash, is a species of ash native to much of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, from western Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Illinois and northern Virginia.[
]
Description
Black ash is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching (exceptionally ) tall with a trunk up to diameter, or exceptionally to . The bark is grey, thick and corky even on young trees, becoming scaly and fissured with age. The winter buds are dark brown to blackish, with a velvety texture. The leaf are opposite leaves, pinnately compound, with 7–13 (most often 9) leaflets; each leaf is long, the leaflets long and broad, with a finely toothed margin. The leaflets are sessile, directly attached to the rachis without a petiolule. The are produced in spring shortly before the new leaves, in loose ; they are inconspicuous with no petals, and are wind-pollinated. The fruit is a samara long comprising a single seed long with an elongated apical wing long and broad.[New Brunswick tree and shrub: Fraxinus nigra][Virtual Herbarium of the Chicago Region: Fraxinus nigra ]
Ecology and conservation status
Black ash commonly occurs in ,
The species was considered abundant and its survival of little concern prior to the invasion of the emerald ash borer, first detected in North America in 2002. However, since that time this invasive insect has spread throughout most of the tree's range, and within a few years black ash is expected to be all but extirpated; a similar fate awaits green ash. In 2014, a U.S. Forest Service agent estimated that "ninety-nine percent of the ashes in North America are probably going to die." Blue ash and white ash are only slightly less affected.
Direct usefulness for humans
In Mi'kma'ki (made up of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and eastern Quebec, Canada), the black ash, or wisqoq, has been vital to the Mi'kmaq culture and was used to make many functional items like chairs, canoes, axes, snowshoes, and most notably, baskets.
The Shakers also made extensive use of the black ash for creating baskets. Also called basket ash, brown ash, swamp ash, hoop ash, and water ash.
It is also a popular wood for making electric guitars and basses, due to its good resonant qualities.[ Guitar Wood FAQ – Wood Types & Tones]
Creating basket strips
Black ash is unique among all trees in North America in that it does not have fibers connecting the growth rings to each other.
Importance to wildlife
North American native ash tree species are used by North American frogs as a critical food source, as the leaves that fall from the trees are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water sources.
