4. F. platycárpa, Michx. (Water-Ash.) Branchlets terete, glabrous or pubescent; leaflets 5–7, ovate or oblong, acute at both ends, short-stalked; fruit broadly winged (not rarely 3-winged), oblong (9´´ wide), with a tapering base.—Deep river-swamps, Va. to La. March. Tree of middle size.
5. F. quadrangulàta, Michx. (Blue Ash.) Branchlets square, at least on vigorous shoots, glabrous; leaflets 7–9, short-stalked, oblong-ovate or lanceolate, pointed, sharply serrate, green both sides; fruit narrowly oblong, blunt, and of the same width at both ends, or slightly narrowed at the base, often notched at the apex (1½´ long, 3–4´´ wide).—Dry or moist rich woods, Ohio to Mich. and Minn., south to Tenn.—Large timber tree, the inner bark yielding a blue color to water.
[*][*] Lateral leaflets sessile; anthers short-oblong; flowers wholly naked.
6. F. sambucifòlia, Lam. (Black Ash.) Branchlets and petioles glabrous; leaflets 7–11, oblong-lanceolate, tapering to a point, serrate, obtuse or rounded at the base, green and smooth both sides, when young with some rusty hairs along the midrib; fruit linear-oblong or narrowly elliptical, blunt at both ends.—Swamps and wet banks, N. Scotia to Minn., south to Va. and Mo.—Small or middle-sized tree, with very tough and fissile wood. Bruised foliage exhales the odor of Elder.
2. FORESTIÈRA, Poir.
Flowers diœcious, crowded in catkin-like scaly buds from the axils of last year's leaves, imbricated with scales. Corolla none. Calyx of 4 minute sepals. Stamens 2–4; anthers oblong. Ovary ovate, 2-celled, with 2 pendulous ovules in each cell; style slender; stigma somewhat 2-lobed. Drupe small, ovoid, 1-celled, 1-seeded.—Shrubs, with opposite and often fascicled deciduous leaves and small flowers. Fertile peduncles short, 1–3-flowered. (Named for M. Forestier, a French physician.)
1. F. acuminàta, Poir. Glabrous, somewhat spinescent, 5–10° high; leaves thin, oblong-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate at both ends, often serrulate; drupe elongated-oblong, usually pointed.—Wet river banks, S. W. Ind. to Mo., south to Tex. April.
3. CHIONÁNTHUS, L. Fringe-tree.
Calyx 4-parted, very small, persistent. Corolla of 4 long and linear petals, which are barely united at base. Stamens 2 (rarely 3 or 4), on the very base of the corolla, very short. Stigma notched. Drupe fleshy, globular, becoming 1-celled, 1–3-seeded.—Low trees or shrubs, with deciduous and entire petioled leaves, and delicate flowers in loose and drooping graceful panicles, from lateral buds. (Name from χιών, snow, and ἄνθος, blossom, alluding to the light and snow-white clusters of flowers.)
1. C. Virgínica, L. Leaves oval, oblong, or obovate-lanceolate; flowers on slender pedicels; petals 1´ long, narrowly linear, acute, varying to 5 or 6 in number; drupe purple, with a bloom, ovoid (6–8´´ long).—River banks, N. J. and S. Penn. to Fla., Tex., and Mo.; very ornamental in cultivation. June.