Fraxinus albicans
Fraxinus albicans, commonly called the Texas ash,[1] is a species of tree in the olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to North America, where it is found from eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma in the United States, to the state of Durango in Mexico.[2][3] Its natural habitat is in dry, rocky slopes, often over limestone.[4]
| Fraxinus albicans | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Oleaceae |
| Genus: | Fraxinus |
| Section: | Fraxinus sect. Melioides |
| Species: | F. albicans |
| Binomial name | |
| Fraxinus albicans | |
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| Natural range of Fraxinus albicans | |
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| Close-up of natural range of Fraxinus albicans | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description
It is a small deciduous tree growing to 10 m tall, with a trunk up to 30 cm diameter. The leaves are 13–21 cm long, pinnately compound with usually five rounded leaflets 3–7.5 cm long and 2–5 cm broad. The flowers are purple, produced in small clusters in early spring; like all ashes, the Texas ash is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate trees. The fruit is a samara 1.5–3 cm long, with an apical wing. It is long-lived and drought tolerant.[4]
Like other species in the section Melioides, Fraxinus albicans is dioecious, with male and female flowers produced on separate individuals.[5]
Taxonomy
Fraxinus albicans is closely related to Fraxinus americana (white ash), and is sometimes treated as a variety of it.[6][4] Where they co-occur, Fraxinus albicans is found in dry habitats while Fraxinus americana is found in mesic bottoms. Fraxinus albicans can be morphologically distinguished by its smaller leaves, smaller and more rounded leaflets, and smaller samaras.[7]
References
- USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Fraxinus albicans". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- "Fraxinus albicans". County-level distribution map from the North American Plant Atlas (NAPA). Biota of North America Program (BONAP). 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- Fraxinus albicans Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Society
- Fraxinus texensis Oklahoma Biological Survey
- Wallander, Eva (2008). "Systematics of Fraxinus (Oleaceae) and evolution of dioecy". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 273 (1–2): 25–49. doi:10.1007/s00606-008-0005-3. S2CID 24152294.
- "Fraxinus albicans". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- Nesom, Guy (2010). "Observations on Fraxinus albicans Buckley (Oleaceae), the correct botanical name for Texas ash" (PDF). Phytoneuron. 2010 (33). Retrieved 17 February 2018.
