WHITE ASH
(Fraxinus americana)
Leaves: Compound, opposite; [leaflets] 5-9, each 3″-5″ long, [stalked], somewhat silvery beneath; margins entire or with few rounded teeth toward the tip.
Twigs: Stout, usually smooth, gray-brown, with few large pale spots ([lenticels]). Buds blunt, dark brown. [Leaf scars] half-circular but notched at top.
Fruit: A winged seed, 1″-2″ long, ¼″ wide, shaped like a canoe paddle, in hanging clusters which often remain attached for several months after ripening in autumn.
General: Bark gray-brown, with diamond-shaped fissures when older. A large tree; trunk usually long and straight; commonly occurring on rich soils. Wood important for such special uses as handles, vehicle parts and athletic equipment (practically all baseball bats); valuable for curved parts in furniture.
BLACK ASH
(Fraxinus nigra)
Leaves: Compound, opposite; [leaflets] 7-11, each 3″-5″ long, not [stalked] except end one, dark green above, lighter green beneath with some rusty hairs; margins saw-toothed.
Twigs: Stout, at first somewhat hairy, becoming smooth, gray or red-brown, with many large pale spots ([lenticels]). Buds dark brown to black, end bud pointed. [Leaf scars] nearly circular, with raised margins; not notched at the top.
Fruit: Resembles that of [white ash] but is usually smaller (1″-1¾″ long and ⅜″ wide).