Pop ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pop ash |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fraxinus
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| Species: |
caroliniana
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| Natural range of Fraxinus caroliniana | |
The pop ash is a type of ash tree. It is also known by other names like Florida ash, swamp ash, Carolina ash, or water ash. This tree grows naturally in warm, wet places. You can find it from Cuba up through the southeastern United States. Its range includes states from southern Virginia to Texas.
The botanist Philip Miller first described this tree. It is a smaller tree, usually growing to about 40 feet tall.
Contents
About the Pop Ash Tree
What It Looks Like
The pop ash tree has leaves that are about 7 to 12 inches long. Each leaf is made up of 5 to 7 smaller leaflets. These leaflets are oval-shaped and can be 3 to 6 inches long. Their edges might be slightly jagged or smooth.
The fruit of the pop ash is often unique. It has three wings and a flat seed inside. Sometimes, the seed itself can be a bright violet color. This tree is the smallest of the ash species found in eastern North America. Its wood is light, soft, and not very strong.
How It Grows
Pop ash trees typically grow in coastal swamps and low-lying, warm areas. Like some other ash trees, the pop ash is dioecious. This means that male flowers and female flowers grow on separate trees. One tree will only have male flowers, and another tree will only have female flowers.
Challenges for the Pop Ash
Flooding and Climate Change
Pop ash trees are used to a lot of water. Along the lower Mississippi River, floods often happen in winter and spring. These trees can usually survive these seasonal floods.
However, flooding has become more intense. This is due to changes in our climate. For example, the 2019 spring floods along the Mississippi River were very severe. They caused a lot of damage and cost a lot of money. Experts say that the river has stayed high for so long that many trees have died.
The Emerald Ash Borer Threat
The pop ash tree is also in danger from a tiny insect. This insect is called the emerald ash borer. It is an invasive species, which means it is not native to these areas. It came from Asia.
These beetles harm trees by drilling holes into the wood. This damages the tree's system for moving water and nutrients. It's like blocking the tree's veins and arteries. The emerald ash borer has already spread to 35 U.S. states. It is also in five Canadian provinces.
So far, the emerald ash borer has not reached the lower Mississippi River. But scientists like Jennifer Koch, a Forest Service biologist, believe it is only a matter of time. They expect it will eventually affect the pop ash trees there.
See also
In Spanish: Bufano de Cuba para niños
