Editing Fraxinus quadrangulata

{{Short description|Species of ash}}
{{Redirect|Blue Ash}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Blue ash
|image = Fraxinus quadrangulata.JPG
|status = CR
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Westwood, M. |author2=Oldfield, S. |author3=Jerome, D. |author4=Romero-Severson, J. |date=2017 |title=''Fraxinus quadrangulata'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T61919112A61919114 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T61919112A61919114.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
|genus = Fraxinus
|parent = Fraxinus sect. Dipetalae
|species = quadrangulata
|authority = [[André Michaux|Michx.]]
|range_map = Fraxinus quadrangulata range map 4.png
|range_map_caption = Natural range of ''Fraxinus quadrangulata''
|range_map2 = Fraxinus quadrangulata range map 3.png
|range_map2_caption = Close-up of natural range of ''Fraxinus quadrangulata''
}}

'''''Fraxinus quadrangulata''''', the '''blue ash''', is a species of ash native primarily to the [[Midwest]]ern [[United States]] from [[Oklahoma]] to [[Michigan]], as well as the [[Bluegrass region]] of [[Kentucky]] and the [[Nashville Basin]] region of [[Tennessee]]. Isolated populations exist in [[Alabama]], Southern [[Ontario]], and small sections of the [[Appalachian Mountains]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/fraxquad.pdf | title = Fraxinus Quadragulata Range Map | access-date = 2008-03-02 | publisher = [[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref> It is typically found over calcareous substrates such as [[limestone]], growing on limestone slopes and in moist valley soils, at elevations of {{cvt|120–600|m}}.<ref name=vplants>Virtual Herbarium of the Chicago Region: [http://www.vplants.org/plants/species/species.jsp?gid=17023 ''Fraxinus quadrangulata''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813162311/http://www.vplants.org/plants/species/species.jsp?gid=17023 |date=2007-08-13 }}</ref><ref name=obs>Oklahoma Biological Survey: [http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/frax-qua.htm ''Fraxinus quadrangulata''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020062158/http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/shrub/frax-qua.htm |date=2008-10-20 }}</ref>

==Description==
Blue ash is a medium sized [[deciduous]] [[tree]] typically reaching a height of {{cvt|10–25|m}} with a trunk {{cvt|50–100|cm}} in diameter. The twigs typically have four corky ridges, a distinctive feature giving them a square appearance (in cross-section), hence the species name, ''quadrangulata'', meaning four-angled. The winter buds are reddish-brown. The [[leaf|leaves]] are {{cvt|20–38|cm}} long, with 5–11 (most often 7) leaflets, the leaflets {{cvt|7–13|cm}} long and {{cvt|2.5–5|cm}} broad, with a coarsely serrated margin and short but distinct [[petiole (botany)|petiolules]]. The [[flower]]s are small and purplish, produced in the early spring before the leaves appear. The [[fruit]] is a [[samara (fruit)|samara]] {{cvt|2.5–5|cm}} long and {{cvt|6–12|mm}} broad, including the wing.<ref name=vplants/><ref name=obs/>

==History and uses==
The name blue ash is derived from the black [[Natural dye|dye]] extracted from the tree's inner bark through immersion in water.   European colonists and [[American pioneer]]s used this dye to color [[yarn]] for use in the production of [[textile]]s, [[sewing]], [[crochet]]ing, [[knitting]], [[weaving]], and [[embroidery]]. Blue Ash wood is used to make [[Flooring#Wood flooring|flooring]], [[baseball bat]]s, [[furniture]], [[tool]] handles, [[crate]]s and [[barrel]]s.<ref name=obs/>  The city of [[Blue Ash, Ohio]], an inner suburb of [[Cincinnati]], drew its name from the blue ash trees in the area, the logs of which were used to build many of the community's earliest buildings.<ref name="Brief history">{{cite web|title=Brief History of Blue Ash|publisher=City of Blue Ash, Ohio|url=http://www.blueash.com/content/81/91/103/826/default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012020339/http://www.blueash.com/content/81/91/103/826/default.aspx|archive-date=2013-10-12}}</ref>

North American native ash tree species are used by North American frogs as a critical food source, as the leaves that fall from the trees are particularly suitable for tadpoles to feed upon in ponds (both temporary and permanent), large puddles, and other water sources.<ref name=frogs>{{cite journal |last1=Stephens |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Bervan |first2=Keith |last3=Tiegs |first3=Scott |date=3 May 2013 |title=Anthropogenic changes to leaf litter input affect the fitness of a larval amphibian |journal=Freshwater Biology |volume=58 |issue=8 |pages=1631–1646 |doi=10.1111/fwb.12155 }}</ref> Species such as red maple, which are taking the place of ash, due to the ash borer, are much less suitable for the frogs as a food source—resulting in poor frog survival rates and small frog sizes.<ref name="frogs"/> It is the lack of tannins in the American ash varieties that makes them good for the frogs as a food source and also not resistant to the ash borer. Varieties of ash from outside North America typically have much higher tannin levels and resist the borer. Maples and various non-native invasive trees, which are taking the place of American ash species in the North American ecosystem, typically have much higher leaf [[tannin]] levels.<ref name="frogs"/> It is possible that the blue ash's increased resistance to the borer, as compared with other North American varieties, is due to a higher tannin content. If that is the case, the blue ash is less palatable for maturing frogs than those most threatened by the borer. Ash species native to North America also provide important habitat and food for various other creatures that are native to North America.<ref>{{cite web|title=Black Ash|url=https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/black_ash.html|website=Illinois Wildflowers|publisher=Dr. John Hilty|access-date=27 August 2018}}</ref>

==Conservation status==
As of 2014, blue ash appears to be least threatened in comparison to other North American ash by the infestation of the [[emerald ash borer]].  First detected in North America in 2002, this invasive beetle has since spread throughout much of this tree's range.  Approximately sixty to seventy percent of these trees survive<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Tanis|first1=S. R.|last2=McCullough|first2=D. G.|title=Differential persistence of blue ash and white ash following emerald ash borer invasion|journal=Canadian Journal of Forest Research|date=25 July 2012|volume=42|issue=8|pages=1542–1550|doi=10.1139/x2012-103}}</ref> compared to other ash such as [[Fraxinus nigra|black ash]] and [[Fraxinus pennsylvanica|green ash]] where up to ninety-nine percent of them are killed by emerald ash borer. In 2017, the blue ash, along with other ashes native to the Eastern United States such as the black ash, green ash and [[Fraxinus americana|white ash]] were assessed as Critically Endangered by the [[IUCN]]. This is due to the non-native invasive emerald ash borer's massive population increase across the native habitat of these trees.<ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021" />

In Canada, ''Fraxinus quadrangulata'' is legally protected as a threatened species under the [[Species at Risk Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/210-379|title=Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata)|website=Species at risk public registry|publisher=Government of Canada|date=12 December 2023|access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>  ''F. quadrangulata'' is found in Ontario and has experienced habitat fragmentation within that portion of its range.  Ongoing threats to this species in Canada may include [[white-tailed deer]] browsing of young trees and emerald ash borer activity, although the impact of these threats is not well defined at present.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wildlife-species.az.ec.gc.ca/species-risk-registry/virtual_sara/files//cosewic/sr_Blue%20Ash_2014_e.pdf|title=COSEWIC Assessment and Status Report on the Blue Ash ''Fraxinus quadrangulata'' in Canada|author=COSEWIC|publisher=Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada|location=Ottawa|access-date=22 May 2024|year=2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q882296}}
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[[Category:Fraxinus|quadrangulata]]
[[Category:Trees of Northern America]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1803]]
[[Category:Flora of Tennessee]]