Fraxinus uhdei (Wenz.) Lingl. Oleaceae (Olive Family) Mexico Shamel Ash Evergreen Ash

                                          April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Dioecious evergreen to semi-evergreen tree, in mildest areas leaves stay through the winter; in colder sections, trees lose most or all foliage, but often for only a short time; grows fast to 25-35 ft. in 10 years, 40 ft. in 20 years, eventually 70-80 feet or more; lvs. divided into 5-9 glossy, dark green leaflets about 4 in. long, serrate; fls. before the leaves, petals none, pistil one, fr. a one seeded winged samara, linear-oblanceolate, 3-4 cm. long, 4-5 mm. wide, lightly winged at base

Habitat:  Introduced from Mexico.  Blooms in early spring.

Name:  Latin, fraxinus, the ash tree. (Jaeger 105).  Uhdei, John Johnson feels that uhdei is named for a person.  The name means of Uhde.  Possibly a Who's Who of Science would give more information.

General:  Uncommon in the study area with a few specimens around the bay.  Most specimens are either male or are not near a male tree as they do not produce fruit.  (my comments).      Indians used Fraxinus latifolia, the Oregon Ash, for tobacco, pipes, canes, harpoon shafts and made medicine from the roots.  (Coon 245).      Ash trees, Fraxinus spp., were popular for a lot of reasons, one of them being an ear remedy.  You need an ash stick, one end of which you stick into the campfire.  As it slowly heats, the sap from the stick is supposed to bubble from it.  Catch the warmed sap as it appears, because that warmed sap is what one must put in an aching ear to relieve pain.  Perhaps it was the temperature of the sap, or perhaps there was some ingredient in it that helped.  We do not know, but it seems to have worked for earaches of the past.  (Fielder 65).      Fraxinus species have been known to cause hay fever and asthma.  (Fuller 381).      About 65 species of deciduous trees mostly native in the north temp. zone, valuable as street and park trees.  (Bailey 799).      The wood is used for baseball bats, shovel handles and other tools.  (John Johnson).

Text Ref:  Bailey 799; Sunset Editors, New Western Garden Book 1984, 303.

Photo Ref:  Mar-May 90 # 1,6,7,8,9,10; Feb-April 91 # 5.

Identity: by John Johnson.

First Found:  April 1990.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 086. 

Plant specimen donated to UC Riverside in 2004.

Last edit 8/7/05. 

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