Texas ash facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texas ash |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Fraxinus
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| Species: |
albicans
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| Natural range of Fraxinus albicans | |
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| Close-up of natural range of Fraxinus albicans | |
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The Texas ash, also known as Fraxinus albicans, is a type of tree. It belongs to the olive family, which is called Oleaceae. This tree grows naturally in North America. You can find it in places like eastern Texas and southern Oklahoma in the United States. It also grows south into the state of Durango in Mexico. Texas ash trees like to grow on dry, rocky hillsides. They often grow where there is limestone rock.
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What Does the Texas Ash Look Like?
The Texas ash is a small deciduous tree. This means it loses its leaves every year, usually in the fall. It can grow up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 30 centimeters (about 12 inches).
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Texas ash are about 13 to 20 centimeters (5 to 8 inches) long. They are made up of smaller parts called leaflets. Usually, there are five rounded leaflets on each leaf. Each leaflet is about 3 to 7.5 centimeters long and 2 to 5 centimeters wide.
The tree produces purple flowers. These flowers grow in small groups in the early spring. Like all ash trees, the Texas ash is dioecious. This means that some trees have only male flowers, and other trees have only female flowers. You need both a male and a female tree for seeds to be made.
Fruits and Growth
After the flowers, the tree grows a type of fruit called a samara. A samara is a special kind of seed with a wing. This wing helps the seed fly away in the wind. The samaras of the Texas ash are about 1.5 to 3 centimeters long.
Texas ash trees can live for a long time. They are also very good at handling dry weather. This makes them strong and hardy trees.
How Is Texas Ash Related to Other Trees?
The Texas ash (Fraxinus albicans) is very similar to the white ash (Fraxinus americana). Some scientists even used to think it was just a different type of white ash.
Differences Between Texas Ash and White Ash
Even though they are alike, there are some key differences. The Texas ash prefers dry places to grow. The white ash, however, likes wetter areas, often near rivers or streams.
You can also tell them apart by looking closely at them. Texas ash trees usually have smaller leaves. Their leaflets are also smaller and more rounded. Plus, their samara fruits are smaller than those of the white ash. These small differences help scientists tell them apart.
