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t Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. i/e/utina(0\eaceae). Phytoneuron 2010-34: 



TAXONOMIC NOTES 
ON FRAXINUS BERLANDIERIANA AND F. VELUTINA (OLEACEAE) 

Guy L. Nesom 

2925 Hartwood Drive 

Fort Worth, TX 76109, USA 

www.guynesom.com 

ABSTRACT 

The concept of Fraxinus berlandieriana has been applied mostly to trees in the Rio Grande 
plains of south Texas and adjacent Mexico. An expanded range is recognized here to include 
counties along the eastern edge of the Edwards Plateau and as far north in Texas as Dallas and Tarrant 

counties and slightly disjunct further northward to Stephens Co., Oklahoma. Fraxinus velutina and F. 
pennsylvanica are closely similar to F. berlandieriana — the Texas distributions for all three are 
mapped and synonymy and typification are provided for F. velutina (including F. papillosa). 
Lectotypes are designated for Fraxinus attenuata, F. berlandieriana. F. papillosa. F. pubescens var. 
lindheimeri, F. tourney i, F. trialata, and F. velutina var. glabrata. 

KEY WORDS: Fraxinus berlandieriana, F. velutina, F. papillosa, F. pennsylvanica, Oleaceae 



Fraxinus berlandieriana DC. has been treated at specific rank by Texas botanists and most 
others (eg., Standley 1924; Vines 1960; Preston 1961; Correll & Johnston 1970; Elias 1980; Cox & 
Leslie 1988; Simpson 1988), although its distinction from F. pennsylvanica Marsh, has not been 
critically studied. The two rarely have been directly compared. Miller (1955), in contrast, treated F. 
berlandieriana as a synonym among many others within her concept of F. pennsylvanica. 

Wide variability exists within Fraxinus pennsylvanica and it is generally recognized in 
current treatments without formal infraspecifie variants, although man} have been named. Some of 
the formally named valiants are accounted for below; others are given by Wunderlin and Hansen 
(2010). Miller (1955) further broadened the concept of F. pennsylvanica to include at subspecific 
rank F. velutina Torr. of the southwestern USA. and northwestern Mexico and F. latifolia Benth. of 
California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. In Miller's view, trees of eastern North 
America are subsp. pennsylvanica. 

Two varieties of Fraxinus pennsylvanica sensu stricto often are recognized: var. 
pennsylvanica (red ash) with tomentose to puberulent twigs, petioles, rachises, and leaf surfaces and 
var. subintegerrima (green ash; synonym var. lanceolata) with glabrous twigs and leaves and 
narrower leaflets. The two appear to be completely sympatric, however, over the range of the species, 
although they may sort ecologically in some places or at least small enclaves of one expression or the 
other may occur in some areas. Study of infraspecifie variation in F. pennsylvanica remains an 
interesting and potentially informative prospect. 

The nomenclature! implication by Miller (1955) that Fraxinus berlandieriana is more similar 
to F. pennsylvanica than is F. velutina or F. latifolia is correct, but F. berlandieriana can be 
recognized as morphologically and geographically distinct. Intermediates perhaps occur where the 
two are sympatric, but the geographic transition seems abrupt. Jones (1975) recognized the 
occurrence of both species in the Texas Coast Bend. Both species have been collected in Travis 
County, Texas, and I have observed both in relatively close proximity in Fort Worth, Tarrant County. 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. velutina 



Miller (1955) saw the distributions of Fraxinus pennsylvanica, F. berlandieriana, and F. 
velutina as a geographic continuum, which is contradicted here (Fig. 1). She noted (p. 18) that 
"Where the velvet and the red ash [F. velutina andF. pennsylvanica] meet, ... a significant number of 
individuals are not clearly the velvet or the red ash. Many of these intermediate specimens have been 
identified in the past as F. berlandieriana. Since hybridization seems to occur, indicating a lack of 
sterility between these two ashes where they are in contact, ... the author has reduced the velvet ash 
to a subspecific level." She observed (by annotation. SMU) F. velutina as extending eastward to the 
Rio Grande plains, and in her view, typical F. berlandieriana was "a variation of red ash." 

Fraxinus berlandieriana differs from F. pennsylvanica in its leaves with fewer" leaflets and 
smaller petiole bases and in its sporadically 3-winged samaras with wings originating from a lower 
point along the body (see key below). The occurrence of 3-winged samaras was noted by De 
Candolle in the protologue ("Samarae . . . rarius triquetrae"), later by Gray ( 1 878), and was beautifully 
illustrated by C.E. Faxon in Sargent (1894, Tab. 273). As also is the case in F. caroliniana Miller, 3- 
winged fruits are produced in low frequencies (5-10%) on trees with primarily 2-winged fruits, or 
some trees apparently produce only 2-winged fruits. Both species characteristically occur in riparian 
and bottomland communities and both produce samaras with strongly flattened bodies with 2-3 
smooth and shallow longitudinal channels. Trees of F. berlandieriana are (20-)25-60 feet tall; those 
of F. pennsylvanica may range up to 80 feet but smaller trees in the height range of F. berlandieriana 
are common, and in Texas, green ash trees are described (from label data) as (15-)20-40 feet tall. 

Fraxinus berlandieriana has generally been considered to be a species of the Rio Grande 
plains of south Texas (e.g., Turner et al. 2003) and adjacent Mexico. It has been noted to occur "in 
the Edwards Plateau" (Correll & Johnston 1970) or in the "southern Edwards Plateau" (Cox & Leslie 
1988). Simpson (1988) mapped it as disjunct in Travis and Bastrop counties from a more southern 
distribution. In the present study, trees with 3-winged fruits and predominantly 3-5 leaflets with 
distinctly serrate distal margins are observed to occur in Texas along the eastern edge of the Edwards 
Plateau to as far north as Tarrant and Dallas counties (Fig. 1). In some cases, these were correctly 
identified by the collectors as F. berlandieriana. 

Similarly, a collection from south-central Oklahoma is identified here as Fraxinus 
berlandieriana — at the northern extremity of its range and apparently slightly disjunct from those in 
Texas to the south. Oklahoma. Stephens Co.: Magnolia Creek, Little Beaver Creek, 8 mi W of 
Duncan, valley forest of Celtis, Ulmus, Carya, 1100 feet, near stream banks, large tree 60 feet, 
common, 29 Oct 1980, Little 36340 (OKLA). The collector noted "a few fruits 3-winged," and these 
are clearly observable on the specimen. The leaflets are 3-5 on rachises 4-6 cm long, and the petiole 
bases are relatively shallow and apically concave. From the same locality Little collected a specimen 
of F. pennsylvanica (Little 36308, OKLA), noting that it was taken from a "shrub" and calling 
attention to the comparison with 36340 — it is sterile, but the leaflets are 5-7 on rachises 12-16 cm 
long, and the petiole bases (leaf scars) are distinctly shield-shaped, typical of F. pennsylvanica. 



1. Leaflets 3-5, coriaceous to subcoriaceous, (4-)5-9.5 cm x (1.5-)2-4 cm, margins coarsely and 
sharply serrate on distal 1/2-2/3; leaf scars shallowly hemispheric, 2.2-3 mm wide, apex shallowly 
concave; samaras mostly 2-winged but often 3-winged among the 2-winged ones, wings gradually 
expanded from the base to distal 1/3 of body and narrowly flanging the body. 

Fraxinus berlandieriana 

1. Leaflets 5-7(-9), subcoriaceous to submembranous, (6-)7.5-ll(-12) x 2.5-5(-6), margins 
subentire to inconspicuously dentate-serrulate; leaf scars shield-shaped, broadly oblong-ovate, 3^1 
mm wide, apex truncate to very shallowly concave; samaras consistently 2-winged, wings abruptly 
expanded from distal l/4(-l/2) of body Fraxinus pennsylvanica 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. vdutina 



between F. berlandieriana and F. pennsyivanica are subtle, and further study in 
field and lab will provide a more certain resolution of their distinction and evolutionary status. A 
collection from Refugio Co., Texas (23 Jul 1989, Jones 3595), was identified as F. berlandieriana 
and used by Wallander (2008) as a voucher for her molecular study, but it is F. pennsyivanica. 
Collections from Hidalgo, Mexico, sometimes identified as F. berlandieriana are apparently not that 
species. One such, Pringle 9417 (Hidalgo, valley near Dublan), is the type of F. pringlei Lingelsh: 
another from Hidalgo of the same species, Pringle 135S4, was used by Wallander (2008) as a voucher 
of F. berlandieriana for molecular analysis. 

Fraxinus berlandieriana DC. [as "berlanderiana"], Prodr. 8: 278. 1844. Fraxinus viridis var. 
berlandieriana (DC.) A Gray, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 166. 1859. Fraxinus pubescens 
var. berlandieriana (DC.) Wenzig, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 4: 183. 1883. Fraxinus americanavar. 
berlandieriana (DC.) Wesmael, Bull. Soc. Bot. Belgique 31: 108. 1892. Fraxinus viridis 
forma berlandieriana (DC.) Voss, Vilm. Blumegartn. (ed. 3) 1: 645. 1894. LECTOTYPE 
(designated here): USA. Texas. "Orillas del Rio de las Nueces, Julio 1829, M. Berlandier 
1832, No. 2012 (G-DC, fiche!; isolectotype: G-DC fiche!, GH!). The label of the G-DC 
duplicate says "Tamaulipas, M. Berlandier 1832. 2012." The GH specimen label says "Rio 
de las Nueces, alt. 20-25 feet, Jul 1829, Berlandier 2012/602." Two further duplicates with 
the "602" label are at US: "602 Berland, Nueces" (US 96047, digital image!), is further 
noted as "From Berlandier's specimen in herb. Gray;" another sheet (US 40778, digital 
image') has only the number "602." A duplicate of the 602 collection also is at PH (fide the 
PH online type database), label information as "Orillas del Rio de las Nueces" in Texas; 
another is at NY (NY 297176, mounted opposite Berlandier 2122), labeled as "Hab. Nueces - 
Texas." All of the "602's" are also perhaps duplicates of the lectotype. Another possible 
isolectotype is Berlandier 2112 (NY 29717^ luital noa^e' ft j localit oi date, mounted 
with Berlandier 602); "21 12" is perhaps a mistranscription of "2012." 

The protologue notes "in Mexico prov. Tamaulipas, ad villain Austin, et Texas ad 
Orillas del Rio de las Nueces legit cl. Berlandier. ... (vs. sp. a cl, inv.)" In addition to the 
lectotype and duplicate, another specimen (syntype) of F. berlandieriana is in G-DC (fiche!): 
"Villa de Austin, Texas, Hay 1688" A NY sheet has this label information: "Mexico, prov. 
Tamaulipas, ad villain Austin, etc. Legit J.L. Berlandier, n. 2012." 

Berlandier's diary (Berlandier 1980) indicates that the only time in 1829 that he 
crossed the Nueces River was on June 24th, apparently in north-central Dimmit County, as 
indicated on Fig. 1. He did not mention the collection of ash but the both the G-DC and GH 
types, w r hieh are fruiting, are indicated to have been collected in July. 

Fraxinus pubescens var. lindheimeri Wenzig, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 4: 184. 1883. LECTOTYPE 
(designated here): USA. Texas. [Comal Co.:] No other label data, 1847, F. Lindheimer 653 
(SMU!; isolectotypes: BRIT-2 sheets!, GH-3 sheets!, MO' PH S\P [ S-digital image!) 
Wenzig cited simply "F. Lindheimer 653!"; the Oleaceae at B, where Wenzig's herbarium and 
types were deposited, were destroyed. The lectotype has a handwritten label by Lindheimer: 
"Am Flussufer und im feuchten Bottomwaldern mittlereg Cursus." 

Fraxinus trialata Buckley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1862: 5. 1863. Fraxinus viridis var. 
trialata (Buckley) Schelle, Handb. Laubholzben., 408. 1903. LECTOTYPE (designated here): 
USA. Texas. "[Atascosa Co.:] "Atascosa," no other information, S.B. Buckley s.n. (PH 
1070650 digital image!). Protologue: "A shrub or small tree, 15-20 feet high, growing on 
the banks of the Atascosa River in Western Texas." "Samaras in loose axillary or terminal 
panicles, about one-half of them 3-winged, and 2-3 lines broad in the widest portion; not 
terete below; the wings being attenuated as far as the pedicels." The type is mounted on a 
sheet with young branches of what apparently is Fraxinus albicans Buckley (= F. texensis) 
from Hays County, Texas. The label, apparently in Durand's handwriting, says "Fraxinus tri- 
alata Buck!., Atascosa. Texas." 



Flowering Feb-Mar(-Apr). Pond and lake edges, creek and river banks, among boulders in 
rivers, alluvial terraces, low woods, canyons, disturbed sites; (5 -)50 -1300 feet; Okla., Tex.; Mexico 
(Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz). Mexican ash, fresno. 




V**"^ © Fraxinus pennsylvanica 
• Fraxinus berlandieriana 
A Fraxinus velutina 



Figure 1. Distribution at Fraxinus pennsylvanica, F. berlandieriana, and F. velutina in Texas and 
Oklahoma. The asterisk is in Dimmit Co.. Texas, from where the type collection of F. berlandieriana 
was made. The distributions of F. berlandieriana and F. velutina continue into Mexico and F. 
velutina continues to Arizona and southern Utah (see map in Williams and Nesom 2010). 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. velutina 



Sargent (1894, p. 54) observed for Fraxinus berlandieriana that "For centuries it has been 
planted in the cities of the Mexican table-land, except in those of Chihuahua, and their parks and 
places are often dignified by single individuals or noble avenues of this species, which no other Ash- 
tree surpasses in stateliness and beauty." 

Collections of Fraxinus berlandieriana from Mississippi have been distributed and 
apparently are the basis for citation of the species as naturalized there (USD A, NRCS 20 10), but these 
samples are not from a naturalized tree. Bolivar Co.: planted tree beside railroad tracks west of US 61 
in downtown Shelby, 12 Jun 1992, Thomas 129,794 (BRIT, NLU, NY); Shelby, W of US Hwy 61, 
along abandoned RR track in downtown Shelby, 14 Sep 1990, Bryson 10380 (MO, VDB-6 sheets). 
The ten specimens are very similar among themselves and perhaps were ail taken from a single tree, 
noted by collector R.D. Thomas to have been planted. The leaflets are narrower than characteristic 
for the species in Texas, but the identity seems clear. Of a totai of 84 samaras among all the samples, 
9 are 3-winged; leaflets (3-)5, narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 6— 9(— 1 1) cm long, margins sharply 
dentate-serrate on distal 1/3-4/5, glabrous on both surfaces. I also have seen vouchers (BRIT, NLU, 
VDB) for F. berlandieriana in cultivation in Monroe and New Orleans, Louisiana, where it 
apparently is commonly grown, but naturalization of the species in Louisiana is not confirmed in this 
study. Collections from Monroe apparently are the basis for its citation as naturalized in Louisiana 
(USD A NRCS 2010). 

Bessey (1914) reported that "certain green ash trees (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) in Lincoln 
[Nebraska] regularly bear a few tricaipellary fruits." No vouchers were cited but it is possible or even 
probable that these were cultivated trees of F. berlandieriana. I have not seen tricarpellate fruits 
produced by F. pennsylvanica. 

Fraxinus velutina — variation and typification . 

Variation in Fraxinus velutina Torr. has prompted the naming of various taxa at specific and 
infraspecific rank, but all appear to be intergrading and usually are maintained without formal 
recognition within the single species. Leaflets in Texas and most of New Mexico are mostly ovate- 
lanceolate to ovate-elliptic or oblanceolate-obovate. They tend to be narrower — more lanceolate and 
often with an attenuate apex— in southwestern New Mexico and Arizona, where the plants have 
sometimes been identified as var. toumeyi. Miller observed that "local populations may tend to one 
end or the other of this range, but both types and ail possible intermediates are general throughout the 
range of [F. velutina]." Leaflet vestiture across the range of the species typically is sparsely to 
moderately short-villous, especially abaxially along the veins and axils, but glabrous forms occur 
throughout the range. Most trees in Jeff Davis Co., Texas, have glabrous leaves but from one 
population along Limpia Creek near Fort Davis, one tree had glabrous leaves (Correll & Johnston 
18384, LL) and one had leaves short-villous abaxially (Correll & Johnston 18385, LL). 

Miller (1955) observed that significant variation in samara body shape occurs in Fraxinus 
velutina, particularly in New Mexico (as typified by F. standleyi), where thicker bodies approaching 
those of F. americana or F. texensis are produced. In the observation here, thick bodies actually are 
fairly typical of F. velutina as a whole, compared to F. pennsylvanica and F. berlandieriana. The 
samara bodies are terete at the base, and while they are thick-ridged, the bodies are usually not 
distinctly flattened. 

Fraxinus coriacea S, Wats, has often been treated as a synonym of F. velutina, but it has been 
recognized as morphologically and geographically distinct (Nesom 2010). 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. velutina 



and Arizona and have previously been identified as F. papillosa, but they are intergradient with F. 
vdutina and F. papillosa is regarded as a synonym of F. vdutina. The abaxial cuticular surface of F. 
papillosa is not at all "papillose" like the leaves of F. americana and its close relatives. The foliar 
features are discussed in detail and documented by SEM photos in Williams and Nesom (2010). 

Fraxinus velutina Torr. in Emory, Notes Milit. Recomi., 149. 1848. Fraxinus pennsylvanica subsp. 
vdutina (Torr.) G.N. Miller, Cornell Agric. Expt. Sta. Mem. 335: 40. 1955. Fraxinus 
pistaciifolia Torr. [nom. nov. illeg.], Pacific Railr. Rqj. 4(5): 128. 1856. Fraxinus americana 
var. pistaciifolia (Torr.) Wenz., Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 31: 108. 1892. Calycomelia 
pistaciifolia (Torr.) Nieuwl, Amer. Midi. Naturalist 3: 187. 1914. LECTOTYPE (Render 
1917): USA. New Mexico. Sierra Co.: between the waters of the Del Norte and the Gila, 15 
Oct '847 H 7 tn, m s.n (['•V digital image! pinto jH'S the M sheet is marked 15 
Oct "1846" (the last digit in the year barely legible), but it is the sheet apparently annotated 
by Torrey first as F. vdutina, then later as F. pistaciifolia (see below). Holmgren (1984) 
referred to the NY sheet as the "holotype." 

A specimen (fragment package) at GH is labeled "On the Mimbres, 15 Oct 1847, 
W.H. Emory, Jr. s.n." and is noted in the GH database as "Fragment ex Herb. Torrey (NY)." 
The protologue noted "Grows in the region between the waters of the Del Norte and the Gila; 
also on the Mimbres, a tributary of the latter river." 

In the protologue of Fraxinus pistaciifolia, Torrey cited F. vdutina in synonymy, his 
epithet "pistaciaefolia" an explicit substitution for the earlier one: "A species occurring in 
almost all the New Mexico collections, excessively variable in its foliage, and so much more 
generally smooth than pubescent (still less velvety) that we propose to supercede the little- 
known name under which an extreme form of it was briefly described in Emory's Rqwrt 
some years ago." 

A US specimen (digital image!) was annotated as "Type" by E.L. Little in 1951: 
California, [no other information on label,] J.M. Bigdow s.n. The sheet was further annotated 
by little with the observation that the specimen is a mixture of F. cuspidata var, macropetala 
and F. velutina. "California" is printed on the original label, but Little's annotation indicates 
that it was collected in "Arizona, Jan 3, 1854." 

Fraxinus papillosa Lingelsh., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 40: 219. 1907. LECTOTYPE (designated here): 
Mexico. Chihuahua. Colonia Garcia, 7000 ft, 29 Sep 1899, C.H.T. Townsend and CM. 
Barber 354 (US 007353^1 digital image! isol» tchivs B\I dVnlal una ge! F digit ,1 AxugC 
GH. K digital image!, MO!, NY! digital image!, US 34714S digital image!). Lingelsheim 
cited only Townsend & Barber 3541, without specifying the specimen location; he may have 
had a specimen at Breslau (Wroclaw, WRSL), where he worked. The isolectotype at GH was 
not located in 2009, but a photo of the GH sheet is on file and a fragment package from the 
GH sheet is mounted and filed with the types. 

Fraxinus toumeyi Britton in Britton & Shafer, N. Amer. Trees, 803, fig. 732. 1908. Fraxinus velutina 
var. toumeyi (Britton) Rehder, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 53: 204. 1917. LECTOTYPE 
(designated here): USA. Arizona. Pima Co.: Tucson, October 1895, J.W. Tourney s.n. (NY! 
digital image!; isoiectotypes: US-2 sheets digital images!). Two separate collections are 
mounted on each of the three sheets — one branch in flower with small, developing leaves 
(collected March) and one sterile with fully mature leaves (collected October). The 
protologue notes that "The type specimens were collected by Professor J.W. Toumey of the 
Yale Forest School, at Tucson, Arizona, March and October, 1895, 1: referring to the pair of 
collections (syntypes) on each sheet. The collection made in October is designated here as 
the lectotype. 

Fraxinus attenuata M.E. Jones, Contrib. W. Bot. 12: 59. 1908. LECTOTYPE (designated here): 
Mexico. Baja California. Valley of Palms, 8 Apr 1882, M.E. Jones 3741 (US 01083329 
digital image!; isoiectotypes: GH!, MICH digital image!, MO!, US 220686 digital image!). 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. velutina 



The protologue also cited a syntype: Arizona. [Pima Co.:] Catalina Mts., 15 Jun 1903, 
Thornber s.n. (RSA). A specimen of Jones 3741 was not located at RSA-POM, fide Sula 
Vanderplank at RSA). 

Fraxinus velutina var. glabra Render, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 53: 207. 1917. TYPE: USA. Arizona. 
Pima Co.: Range Reserve, 21 Jul 1911, EM. Wooton s.n. (holotype: US 690667 digital 
image!; isotype: US 660964 digital image!). Rehder cited the unpublished "Fraxinus glabra 
Thornber in U S. Herb." as a synonym — the handwritten labels of the two US type sheets 
were supplied with the identification of "Fraxinus glabra Thornber sp. nov." 

Fraxinus standleyi Rehder, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 53: 208. 1917. TYPE: USA. New Mexico. Dona 
Ana Co.: Organ Mts., Van Pattens Camp, 9 Jun 1906, P.C. Standley s.n. (holotype: US 
560835 digital image!, photo-GH!; isotype: US 564379 digital image!). 

Fraxinux standleyi var. lasia Rehder, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 53: 210. 1917. TYPE: USA. Arizona. 
Coconino Co.: Oak Creek Canyon, S of Flagstaff, 5500 ft, 15 Sep 1916, A. Rehder 585 
(holotype: GH!). 

Fraxinus velutina var. glabrata Lingelsh., Pflanzenr. 4, 243(Heft 72): 43. 1920 [nom. illeg, non 
Rehder 1917]. LECTOTYPE (designated here): Mexico. Baja California. Valley of Palms, 8 
Apr 1882, M.E. Jones 3741 (US 01083329 digital image!; isolectotypes: MO!, US 00220686 
digital image!). Lingelsheim worked at Breslau (Wroclaw, WRSL) and may have seen a 
specimen there, but the protologue cited only "Die varietat scheint auf Mexiko beschrankt zu 
sein. (Jones n. 3741, Endlich n. 164!, 164a!)." With selection of Jones 3741 as the lectotype, 
F. velutina var. glabrata becomes homotypic with Fraxinus attenuata M.E. Jones (see 
above). 

Flowering Mar-Apr. Canyons, streambanks, yellow pine woodland, chaparral, riparian 
woods; (200-)600-2100 m; Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Tex., Utah.; Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, 
Coahuila, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Sonora). Arizona ash, velvet ash, desert ash, fresno. 

Plants identified as Fraxinus velutina from Comanche Co., Oklahoma, by Miller (1955) are 
identified here as F. pennsylvanica — in a county where the latter is very common (Clemens 1 1 725a, 
GH) and where F. velutina would be far out of range. Collections of F. pennsylvanica from Woods 
Co., Oklahoma (BRIT, SMU), also have the aspect off", velutina but similarly are far out of range for 
the latter. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

I am grateful to the staffs at BRIT/SMU/VDB, GH, MO, NLU, NY, OKI,, OKLA, SJNM, 
TEX/LL, and UNM for help during visits to those herbaria and to Sula Vanderplank at RSA for 
images of specimens and other observations, Alina Freire at PH for an image of F. trialata, Mike and 
Shirley Powell at SRSC for information and photos of trans-Pecos plants, Daniel Atha and Michael 
Nee at NY for comments and rnsigliis anl k sndu Gsndhi ioi id\K~ on nomenclatural problems. 
This study was done as part of the work under contract for the Flora of North America Association, in 
conjunction with preparation of the FNANM treatment of Fraxinus. 

LITERATURE CITED 

Berlandier, J.L. 1980. Journey to Mexico: during the years 1826 to 1834. Botanical notes by C.H. 

Muller and K.K. Muller. Vols. 1 and 2. Texas State Historical Association, Austin. 
Bessey, C.E. 1914. Tricarpellary ash-fruits. Amer. Bot. 20: 21. 
Britton, N.L. 1908. North American Trees. H. Holt, New York. 
Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. Texas Research 

Foundation, Renner, Texas. 
Cox, P.W and P. Leslie. 1988. Texas Trees: AFriendly Guide. Corona Publ. Co., San .Antonio, Texas. 



Nesom: Fraxinus berlandieriana and F. vdutina 



Davidson, C.G. 1999. 'Northern Treasure' and 'Northern Gem' hybrid ash. Hortscience 34: 15 1 

152. 
Dayton, W.A. 1954. Some more notes on United States ashes (Fraxinus). J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 44: 

885-390. 
Elias, T.S. 1980. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. N.Y. 
Gray, A 1878. Fraxinus. Synoptical Flora of North America. 2(1): 73-76. 
Hardin, J. W. and R.L. Beckmann. 1982. Atlas of foliar surface features in woody plants: 5. Fraxinus 

(Oleaceae) of eastern North America. Brittonia 34: 129-140. 
Holmgren, N.H. 1984. Oleaceae. Intermountain Flora 4: 339-344. 

Jones, F.B. 1975. Flora of the Texas Coastal Bend. Welder Wildlife Foundation, Sinton, Tex. 
Lingelsheim, A. 1920. Oleaceae-Oleoideae-Fraxineae. In A. Engler, Das Pflanzenreich IV, 243(Heft 

72): 1-61. 
Little, E.L., Jr. 1952. Notes on Fraxinus (ash) in the United States. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 42: 369- 

380. 
Little, E.L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 3: Minor western hardwoods. U.S.D.A, 

Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 
Miller, G.N. 1955. The genus Fraxinus, the ashes, in North America, north of Mexico. Cornell. 

Expt. Sta. Memoir 335, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, New York. 
Nesom, G.L. 2010. Taxonomic status of Fraxinus coriacea (Oleaceae). Phytoneuron, forthcoming 
USDA NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

<http://plants usda.gov> Accessed 21 July 2010. 
Palmer, E.J. 1929. The ligneous flora of the Davis Mountains, Texas. J. Arnold Arbor. 10: 8^15. 
Powell, AM. 1988. Trees & Shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas. Univ. of Texas Press, 

Austin. 
Preston, R.J. 1961. North American Trees (Exclusive of Mexico and Tropical United States). Iowa 

State Univ. Press, Ames. 
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